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Alright - this is how it happened. While playing with Jellybean Jam, for some reason or another, I got the itch to do my own tunes. At the time (mid 1997) I was playing 4-6 nights a week and working part-time during the day, so had a little cash put away and decided to get these tunes out of my head and record them. Talking to Jellies drummer Dave Kirby (see also Mk VIII) he was feeling the same so a collaboration was in order. The result - "Your Mum".

Dave and I jammed a couple of times on both stuff I already had, or on new shit. For example, for 60 Days (track 8), we had about 10 minutes rehearsal time left, and Dave suggested we do something a bit "Gurgey". So I made up the riff, and the music was finished by the end of the session. This sort of set the trend of how we did it all - spontaneity ruled. On Sauce (track 4), Dave had written the lyrics and I didn't see them until about 5 minutes before we recorded the track. I didn't even have a melody worked out, but decided to just have a crack and see how it turned out. That first unplanned version is the version on the CD. Also, I had mucked around with a riff at home for a while, and was keen for a Living Colour type track, so when Rhys (producer) went out for a smoke, I played the riff to Dave. By the time Rhys had returned, we had the music finished and recorded it straight away (this became A.M.E - track 10). This was the advantage of recording the drums and guitar together - we could watch each other for signals. We play extremely well together, and understand each others' playing very well - you do after playing 230 gigs a year (Jellies) - so got through all 19 songs in one evening. I believe they are all first takes apart from 3 or 4.
Anyway, after the recording we had a bit of a look into pressing and mixing and all the other things that you have to, and realised we didn't have enough funds for all of it, so just happily continued doing the Jellies thing. After about a year, the bug bit again and we were able to spend a couple of grand on artwork, mixing, mastering, song copyright and pressing 500 CD's. However, the bug had really bit hard, so we recruited old friend Paul Limbrey (Mk V) to play bass for us so we could play live. We were unable to use any of the 5 different bass players used on the album for various reasons, so guitar playing Paul was kind enough to give it a go. Gigs were very tough to get a hold of - basically, Jellies were playing every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, leaving not many choices as to try and get gigs. So the gigs we did were to not many people, but it was tons of fun.

If you're not familiar with Sydney, you won't know these venues, but I'll print them anyway. These are the LIVE gigs that Wrapped In Plastic Mk VII played from September to October 1998 - :
Bat & Ball Hotel
Northpoint Tavern
The Globe (Newtown)
The Iron Duke
All the photos are from the Iron Duke show, and there is a rumour that this gig was recorded.. Unfortunately for us, we didn't have the CD's back from the press until after the last gig, so I have only sold them to interested Jellybean Jam fans, and now (hopefully) to interested Porkers fans.

Now, you might think that the whole Wrapped In Plastic phenomenon ends there, but you would be sadly mistaken, my friend. You see, I am planning Mk IX even as you sit and read this monologue. I cannot indulge any more information at this stage, however, but all will (hopefully - if all goes to plan) be revealed before the end of the year. So be patient and look out for another triumphant return. I will say this - if you mix absolutely everything you have read so far together, you're on the right track.