Freak Show is the second studio album by Australian rock band Silverchair. It was recorded during May–November 1996 and released on 4 February 1997 by record labels Murmur and Epic. Freak Show was produced by Nick Launay. Frontman Daniel Johns described the album’s title in 1997 by comparing the on-the-road life of Silverchair to that of a traveling carnival.
The album’s front cover image is an illustration of Grady Stiles, Jr., a sideshow performer afflicted with ectrodactyly, who used the stage name Lobster Boy. The image is courtesy of Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Johns also stated that some of the lyrics were toned-down for release on Freak Show. Although, the majority of the songs found on the album still retain emotional and angst-fueled themes that include disease and suicide.
Many Freak Show songs such as Slave, Freak, No Association, and Nobody Came were performed live two years prior to their release on the album. Satin Sheets was originally recorded for Freak Show, but was omitted from the album and included on Neon Ballroom (1999) instead. Although Freak Show was shelved until February 1997 for the general public, European and Australian promotional pressings were officially circulated throughout the music press in late October early November 1996.
The release of Freak Show was originally slated for the autumn of 1996; it was later pushed back to avoid competition from Pearl Jam‘s No Code. Freak Show was released on 4 February 1997. The album reached number 1 in the Australian charts and yielded three Top 10 singles Freak, Abuse Me and Cemetery. Its fourth single, The Door, reached No. 25. Freak Show was certified gold in the US, and 2× platinum in Australia.
Tracklist:
- Slave
- Freak
- Abuse Me
- Lie to Me
- No Association
- Cemetery
- The Door
- Pop Song for Us Rejects
- Learn to Hate
- Petrol & Chlorine
- Roses
- Nobody Came
- The Closing
Silverchair
Daniel Johns: vocals, guitars, sleeve art direction
Ben Gillies: drums, timpani, percussion, sleeve art direction
Chris Joannou: bass guitar, sleeve art direction
Additional personnel
Jane Scarpantoni: cello on track 6, string arrangements on track 6
Margaret Lindsay: cello on track 10
Amanda Brown: violin on track 8
Ian Cooper: violin on track 8
Lorenza Ponce: violin on track 6
Elizabeth Knowles: violin on track 6
Todd Reynolds: violin on track 6
David Mansfield: violin on track 6
Ravi Kutilak: violin on track 10
Matthew Pierce: viola on track 6
Alan Parry: viola on track 6
Rudi Crivici: viola on track 10
Pandit Ran Chander Suman: tanpura and tabla on track 10
Ruk Mali: sitar on track 10
Daniel Denholm: string arrangements on track 10
Technical personnel
Nick Launay: production, recording, mixing on Petrol & Chlorine and The Closing, string arrangements on track 10
Andy Wallace: mixing on all tracks except Petrol & Chlorine and The Closing
Mark Thomas: engineering assistance (Sydney)
Matt Lovell: engineering assistance (Sydney)
Steve Sisco: engineering assistance (NYC)
Bob Ludwig: mastering
John Watson: sleeve art direction
John O’Donnell: sleeve art direction
Kevin Wilkins: sleeve art direction
Sophie Howarth: sleeve photography
Adrienne Overall & others: sleeve photography
Lydia Kullik: cover art design
