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Psycho Circus

Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:14:11 PM Wikipedia source

Psycho Circus is the eighteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss and the first and only album to involve all four original members since 1979's Dynasty. While touted as a band effort, the album was recorded using largely session players and Kiss associates. Peter Criss only played drums on the Ace Frehley-penned track, "Into the Void", and guitarist Frehley only played on two regular album tracks, the one he wrote plus "You Wanted the Best". He also played on a bonus track called "In Your Face", penned by Simmons. All four band members, however, sang lead vocals on the album.

Infobox

Released
September 22, 1998 (1998-09-22)
Recorded
January–April 1998
Studio
One on One (Los Angeles) A&M (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Hard rockheavy metal
Length
44:24
Label
Mercury
Producer
Bruce Fairbairn

Tables

Professional ratings · Reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
4/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Review scores
Entertainment Weekly
Review scores
A−
Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Review scores
Kerrang!
Review scores
Metal Rules
Metal Rules
Review scores
Metal Rules
Review scores
4.0/5
Rock Hard
Rock Hard
Review scores
Rock Hard
Review scores
8.0/10
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
4/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment Weekly
A−
Kerrang!
Metal Rules
4.0/5
Rock Hard
8.0/10
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
· Charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (1998)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (1998)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
25
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1998)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1998)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
51
European Albums Charts
European Albums Charts
Chart (1998)
European Albums Charts
Peakposition
13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1998)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
5
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (1998)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
71
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1998)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
5
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1998)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1998)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
4
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1998)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1998)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
30
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
47
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
2
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1998)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
3
Chart (1998)
Peakposition
Australian Albums (ARIA)
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
25
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
51
European Albums Charts
13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
5
French Albums (SNEP)
71
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
5
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
4
Scottish Albums (OCC)
61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
30
UK Albums (OCC)
47
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
2
US Billboard 200
3
· Certifications
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
Sweden (GLF)
Sweden (GLF)
Region
Sweden (GLF)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
40,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)
Gold
50,000^
Sweden (GLF)
Gold
40,000^
United States (RIAA)
Gold
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss
  2. No regrets : a rock 'n' roll memoir
    https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/978509794
  3. "Karl Cochran Biography"
    https://www.karlcochran.com/about.htm
  4. Bravewords.com
    https://bravewords.com/news/ace-frehley-looks-back-on-kiss-psycho-circus-album-it-was-a-disappointment-for-me-the-only-song-i-performed-on-was-the-one-i-wrote
  5. "Into The Void"
    https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/song_stories/song_stories_psycho_04.php
  6. Billboard
    https://books.google.com/books?id=KwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65-IA3
  7. "Kiss "Born Again" With Walmart's "Sonic Boom": Band Talks New LP"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130202164358/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kiss-born-again-with-walmarts-sonic-boom-band-talks-new-lp-20090817
  8. "Paul Stanley: 'The 'Farewell' Tour Was Us Wanting To Put KISS Out Of Its Misery'"
    https://blabbermouth.net/news/paul-stanley-the-farewell-tour-was-us-wanting-to-put-kiss-out-of-its-misery
  9. Wizard
  10. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/psycho-circus-mw0000043652
  11. The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties
  12. Encyclopedia of Popular Music
  13. "Psycho Circus Review"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090425222301/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,284987,00.html
  14. Kerrang!
  15. "Kiss – Psycho Circus"
    https://www.metal-rules.com/1998/12/01/kiss-psycho-circus/
  16. Rock Hard
    https://rockhard.de/reviews/kiss-psycho-circus_207223.html
  17. Rolling Stone
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024635/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/psycho-circus-100609/
  18. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110627000037/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kiss/albumguide
  19. "Kiss, Buble Battle For No. 1 On Billboard 200"
    https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kiss-buble-battle-for-no-1-on-billboard-200-1264452/
  20. "American album certifications – Kiss – Psycho Circus"
    https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kiss&ti=Psycho+Circus&format=Album&type=#search_section
  21. The Daily Telegraph
  22. Metal Edge
  23. Sounds Like Teen Spirit
    https://books.google.com/books?id=j0ZU_SZR9FQC&pg=PA46
  24. "Insane Clown Posse Laughs At Itself On New Album"
    https://greensboro.com/insane-clown-posse-laughs-at-itself-on-new-album/article_771bb792-617f-59e6-ae3c-6653cf9d2e9e.html
  25. Kevin Valentine Talks About the Three KISS Albums He Played Drums On In The Studio
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkagsHAY6Hk&t=1199s
  26. "An Interview with Tommy Thayer of KISS"
    https://vwmusicrocks.com/an-interview-with-tommy-thayer-of-kiss/
  27. Bruce Kulick KISS Psycho Circus 25th Anniversary "Behind the Curtain"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGaxuv1y8RQ&ab
  28. "Australiancharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  29. "Austriancharts.at – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  30. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7062". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7062&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7062.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7062
  31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  32. "Billboard"
    https://books.google.com/books?id=jg8EAAAAMBAJ
  33. "Kiss: Psycho Circus" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Kiss/Psycho+Circus
  34. "Lescharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Psycho Circus" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-2840
  36. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005
  37. "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  38. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/19980927/40/
  39. "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  40. "Swisscharts.com – Kiss – Psycho Circus". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kiss&titel=Psycho+Circus&cat=a
  41. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19980927/7502/
  42. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/19980927/112/
  43. "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
    https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kiss/chart-history/TLP
  44. "Canadian album certifications – Kiss – Psycho Circus"
    https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Psycho+Circus%20Kiss
  45. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110517224028/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-19991.pdf
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