When it was announced that Kiss was to record an album with their original line-up after the completion of their highly successful Alive/Worldwide Tour in 1997, fans were hoping for an “all for one and one for all” type of effort. Instead, it has become known over the years that it was anything but.
Of the original four, only Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley appeared on all of the album’s ten tracks, with Ace Frehley supposedly playing guitar on only three tracks (and singing lead on one), and Peter Criss only playing drums on one track (and singing lead on one), with all four trading lead vocals on the song “You Wanted the Best.”
And who filled in for Ace and Peter? Most of the lead guitar parts were supplied by former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick and future Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer, while all of the drumming (except for one song) was provided by session man Kevin Valentine.
During a chat with Chaoszine, Kulick discussed this controversial album. And cleared up what his role was during its creation.
“‘Psycho Circus’…I was very flattered, of course, when I started to do some demos with Paul at that songwriter’s home, this guy, Curt Cuomo, who worked with me for Union, as well,” Kulick said (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). “So, I would either play bass,…I didn’t get to work on a song with Paul ’til a little later, because I did co-write ‘Dreamin‘‘ with Paul.”