Guitarist Stephen Egerton called to congratulate Alvarez on joining the Descendents; the two had been friends since 1976, learned to play guitar together, had played in the Salt Lake City hardcore punk band Massacre Guys, and were both big Descendents fans. Knowing the band needed a guitarist, Alvarez recommended Egerton, who was living in Washington, D.C. at the time. Stevenson also knew Egerton through touring; Egerton had been a tour promoter for Black Flag and the Minutemen when they had played Salt Lake City in 1984. Egerton came to Los Angeles and practiced with the band for a few days, officially joining on Stevenson's birthday of September 10. After settling his affairs in Washington, D.C., he moved to Los Angeles that October. He and Alvarez moved into the Descendents' headquarters, a storefront along the Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita, California that housed the band's living quarters, practice space, and office. Egerton later recalled: