the band entered trafalgar studios in early 1987, soon after returning home from a two-month, 70-date tour of europe and the united states, physically exhausted but creatively energised. keyboardist frank brunetti recalled: "even though we weren't making much money out of it we could see that people were taking an interest, not just in australia but in the states and europe. there was demand from people to make another record." bassist mark lock announced he would quit the band because he did not want to tour any more, but agreed to join them for the recording sessions while they searched for a replacement.