40 Below Summer, is a five-piece alternative metal/hard rock band formed in 1998, when drummer and Peruvian native Carlos Aguilar met with singer Max Illidge and began playing together. Joe D'Amico joined the duet later, followed by Jordan Plingos and Puerto Rican-born Hector Graziani. Their first release was a self-released album called Side Show Freaks. Eventually, a deal was signed with London/Sire Records who released their first major label in October of 2001, Invitation to the Dance, produced by GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, Kittie).