Criss stated in his book Makeup to Breakup: My Life in and Out of Kiss that Paul Stanley was so determined not to work with him and Frehley in the studio that they were paid $850,000 each not to participate in the recording.

[1] Stanley and Simmons have claimed various, and often conflicting, reasons for their not playing much on the album from their not being capable, not showing up, to their wanting new financial deals, and to its being the producer's choice to not use them.

Fairbairn complimented the band for being collaborative, declaring that "it had the potential to be a nightmare because they're all disparate and strong characters, musically and as people.

"[6] In a radio interview with Eddie Trunk following his departure, Criss stated that only "Into the Void" featured instrumental contributions from all four members.

"[7] In 2014, Stanley changed stories yet again, claiming that Criss and Frehley were trying to renegotiate deals and get to compose more songs when he and Simmons thought that "Why would they be equal partners?

Some pressings featured a lenticular cover that alternates between a black Kiss logo and the album title with pictures of a clown and the band members, while the Japan initial first pressing featured a pop-up cover which had three foam spring-loaded panels of a clown face and two others with band members faces that popped out when the doors were opened.

Rolling Stone reviewer wrote that Psycho Circus is "an album of platform-stomping rhythms, roller-coaster guitar riffs and sing-along choruses — is far more respectable than any of the awkward flops from the no-makeup years.

[18] Matt Diehl, in his review for Entertainment Weekly stated that "this is rock with a capital R, captured in all its cheesy glory...

"Typical of the beast is 'I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll' — three and a half minutes of hilariously bombastic pomp-rock that simply crushes thoughts of all post-glam musical developments beneath a silver-painted stack-heel boot.

The American rapper Violent J referenced this in their song "Everybody Rize" by rapping 'Fuck Gene Simmons you make me sick, psycho circus you stole my shit!