John Farnham was keen to change his sound on Chain Reaction from his previous two studio albums Whispering Jack (October 1986) and Age of Reason (July 1988).

[3] Farnham chose to launch Chain Reaction at the New South Wales Rugby League Grand Final at Sydney Football Stadium on 23 September as part of its pre-game entertainment.

Mid-tour he attended Parliament House, Canberra in November 1990 to lobby sitting members, Ros Kelly and John Button, to bring in harsher penalties against bootleg and pirate recordings.

[6] The Canberra Times' Megan Bird reported his talent manager, Glenn Wheatley's claim that Farnham is "the most bootlegged artist in Australia.

"[6] The tour concluded with a televised performance at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, (then known as Flinders Park National Tennis Centre), on either 14 and 15 December 1990.