[1] Encouraged by English musician Mick Jones, who had played in Johnny Hallyday's backing group, the band was established by Gérard Pisani (b.
Their first single "Tout tremblant de fièvre", written by Dietsch and Pisani and released by Disques Vogue, was successful in 1969, and they recorded an LP, En Direct du Rock 'n Roll Circus.
They released a lavishly-produced double album, Acte II, in 1971, featuring the hit single "Je m'éclate au Sénégal", written by Brault and Pisani.
The band then shifted towards a new wave focus with the album De sang froid, which featured the return of original songwriter and saxophonist Gérard Pisani.
[2][3][4] In 2001, an early line-up of Brault, Pisani, Borowsky, Dietsch, Blanc, and Guérin came together to record the album Origines, comprising a mixture of new and re-recorded material.
[2] Another reunion under the Martin Circus name, this time of Pewsner and Pauchard with singer Tom Bock and drummer Félix Sabal-Lecco, took place in 2016.