40 Below Summer reveal lineup change

A lineup adjustment has been announced for the band 40 Below Summer, as per theprp. The New Jersey group bid farewell to lead guitarist David Mondragon following the release of their first new album, “Untethered,” in more than ten years last October. Since 2014, he had been in that position. Anthony Bordonaro (Redefined, Radio Royalty) has also recently joined the group. Here are some of Bordonaro’s upcoming performances with the band.

• Saturday, May 16, 2026 – Manchester, NH, USA – Jewel Music Venue
• Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Hamden, CT, USA – Space Ballroom
• Friday, August 14, 2026 – Joliet, IL, USA – The Forge
• Saturday, August 15, 2026 – Flint, MI, USA – The Machine Shop (with Primer 55)
• Friday, September 18, 2026 – Louisville, KY, USA – Louder Than Life

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Carlos Aguilar, a drummer and native of Peru, met singer Max Illidge in a band called Alien, which led to the formation of 40 Below Summer. After meeting Max Illidge in late 1997, Joey D’Amico joined the duo as a guitarist. Jordan Plingos joined shortly after, and Pete Savad initially played bass before switching to guitar. These lineups recorded the self-released “Side Show Freaks” (1999) at the Music Building in New York City, where they rehearsed. As the band was about to sign its first record deal, Savad left. The band moved Plingos to guitar and added Steve Ferreira, who was quickly replaced on bass by Hector Graziani, who was born in Puerto Rico. “Rain” (2000) was self-released shortly after.

The band’s self-released CD “Side Show Freaks” ended up with No Name Management in late 2000 (renowned for groups like Slipknot and Mudvayne). Up to fifteen well-known labels then expressed interest in the band. They were on the verge of signing with Madonna‘s Maverick Records, another Warner company, but ultimately they signed with Warner Music Group’s London-Sire. With producer GGGarth (Rage Against the Machine, Mudvayne, Kittie), 40 Below Summer flew to Los Angeles in March 2001 to begin recording their major label debut, “Invitation to the Dance”. The band went on a sparsely attended tour with Chimaira and Ill Niño before the record came out, with Factory 81 as the main act. In 2011, “Invitation to the Dance” was finally published.