"Return to the Black Hole" captures the second time that the Adolescents' early lineup had reunited. This lineup—singer Tony Brandenburg (here credited by the stage name Tony Adolescent), bassist Steve Soto, drummer Casey Royer, and guitarist brothers Rikk and Frank Agnew—had recorded the band's debut album, 1981's "Adolescents", also known as "The Blue Album". Rikk Agnew had left the band a few months after the album's release and was replaced, first by Pat Smear and then by Steve Roberts, and the Adolescents had recorded the "Welcome to Reality" EP before breaking up in August 1981. The "Blue Album" lineup had reunited for a performance in April 1986 that led to the band re-forming, but Frank Agnew had left after a few months and Royer had left that August. They were replaced, respectively, by Agnew's younger brother Alfie Agnew and by former Mechanics drummer Sandy Hanson for the album "Brats in Battalions" (1987). Alfie Agnew left by the end of 1986 and was replaced by Dan Colburn, but both he and Brandenburg left the band by the end of 1987. With Frank Agnew rejoining, the Adolescents had issued one more album, 1988's "Balboa Fun*Zone", with Soto and Rikk Agnew sharing lead vocal duties, before disbanding in April 1989.