Psycho Circus

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Professional reviews
Psycho Circus

Studio album by KISS
Released	September 22, 1998
Recorded	January - April 1998
Genre	Hard rock
Length	47:01
Label	Mercury Records
Producer(s)	Bruce Fairbairn
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link
KISS chronology
Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)	Psycho Circus (1998)	The Box Set (2001)

Psycho Circus is a 1998 album by the American hard rock band KISS. It is also the last full studio album of new material from KISS to date.

1 Controversy
2 Track listing
3 Personnel
4 Charts
5 External link

[edit] Controversy

Following KISS' hugely successful 1996-1997 reunion tour, Psycho Circus was touted as the first album by the band's original lineup since 1979's Dynasty. As with Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked, however, a lot of the songs were recorded by uncredited players. It is now known that guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were used sparingly, with Criss only playing drums on "Into the Void." (He had also played on only one Dynasty track). Frehley only played on two songs from the album (not including vocals).

The replacement of Criss and Frehley on a KISS album was nothing new. Frehley had been replaced on songs as early as 1976's Destroyer. Criss was entirely absent from Unmasked, despite being pictured on the album's cover. The same was true for Frehley on 1982's Creatures of the Night. But at the time of those albums, KISS managed to keep a lid on the personnel changes. With Psycho Circus, rumors concerning who played what were circulating prior to the album's release. Many KISS fans voiced disappointment at the ruse.

Despite the controversy, Psycho Circus was the band's first Top 10 album since 1993's Alive III, their highest charting album - at #3, and was certified gold.

[edit] Track listing

"Psycho Circus" (Paul Stanley, Curtis Cuomo) – 5:30
- Lead Vocals - Paul Stanley
"Within" (Gene Simmons) – 5:10
- Lead Vocals - Gene Simmons
"I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll" (Stanley, Cuomo, Holly Knight) – 3:32
- Lead Vocals - Paul Stanley
"Into the Void" (Ace Frehley, Karl Cochran) – 4:22
- Lead Vocals - Ace Frehley
"We Are One" (Simmons) – 4:41
- Lead Vocals - Gene Simmons
"You Wanted the Best" (Simmons) – 4:15
- Lead Vocals - Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley & Peter Criss
"Raise Your Glasses" (Stanley, Knight) – 4:14
- Lead Vocals - Paul Stanley
"I Finally Found My Way" (Stanley, Bob Ezrin) – 3:40
- Lead Vocals - Peter Criss
"Dreamin'" (Stanley, Bruce Kulick) – 4:12
- Lead Vocals - Paul Stanley
"Journey of 1,000 Years" (Simmons) – 4:49
- Lead Vocals - Gene Simmons

[edit] Personnel

Gene Simmons - Bass guitar; rhythm guitar on 5; lead vocals, backing vocals
Paul Stanley - Rhythm guitar; lead guitar on 1, 3, & 6; bass guitar on 5, 7, & 8; lead vocals, backing vocals
Ace Frehley - Lead guitar & rhythm guitar on 4; lead guitar on 6; lead vocals on "Into The Void" and "You Wanted The Best"
Peter Criss - Drums on 4; lead vocals on "You Wanted The Best" and "I Finally Found My Way"

- Additional Musicians:

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1998	The Billboard 200	3
1998	Top Canadian Albums	2

[edit] External link

KISS FAQ - Psycho Circus, Accessed on September 11, 2005.

KISS
Gene Simmons – Paul Stanley – Tommy Thayer – Eric Singer
Peter Criss – Ace Frehley – Eric Carr – Vinnie Vincent – Mark St. John – Bruce Kulick
Discography
Albums: Studio – Live – Compilation
U.S. Top 40 Singles: "Rock and Roll All Nite" – "Shout It Out Loud" – "Beth" – "Hard Luck Woman" – "Calling Dr. Love" – "Christine Sixteen" "Rocket Ride" – "New York Groove" – "I Was Made For Lovin' You" – "Forever"
Filmography: KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park – Detroit Rock City
Related articles
Anton Fig – Bob Kulick – KISS Army – KISS merchandising - KISS timeline – List of KISS concert tours – Wicked Lester