Primer 55

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Primer 55 is an American nu metal band which formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1997. The name originated from the combination of Primer, meaning "something that's unfinished", and 55, which refers to Interstate 55, "the road that drugs run on to get to Chicago through Memphis".[1] To date, Primer 55 has released two studio albums: Introduction to Mayhem (2000) and (The) New Release (2001). After disbanding for the first time in 2003 and reuniting from 2007 to 2015, the band announced another reunion in June 2025.[2]

History

Formation and early days (1997–1998)

Primer 55 was formed in 1997 in Memphis, Tennessee by guitarist Bobby Burns and vocalist J-Sin. The two met when J-Sin's previous band was the opening act for Burns' previous band.[1] Burns' heavy metal music influences and J-Sin's hip hop influences melded to create the band's rap rock sound.[3] Bassist Mike "Jr." Christopher and drummer Josh McLane were then added to complete the lineup.

Record deal, Introduction to Mayhem and (The) New Release (1999–2002)

After releasing an EP on the independent label Propellant Transmissions, Primer 55 signed a contract with Island Records and reissued the EP as their debut album, Introduction to Mayhem on January 25, 2000. The remixed and reconstructed album features appearances from Incubus turntablist Chris Kilmore and Hed PE frontman Jared Gomes.[3]

The band toured with Biohazard, Slipknot, Machine Head and Dope before scoring a slot as a second-stage performer on the Ozzfest 2000 festival tour. Then, in September 2000, Primer 55 toured alongside Soulfly, downset., and Slaves on Dope.[3][4] During this time the band experienced several line-up changes, a pattern that would continue on through the recording of their next album and beyond.[5]

On August 14, 2001, Primer 55 released their second studio album, (the) New Release. It went to number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and No. 102 on the Billboard 200. The album's single, "This Life" peaked at No. 37 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart.[6] After the album's initial success, it was suddenly shelved by Island Records. Burns told PureGrainAudio, "The album was out 2 months then 9/11 happened and we got lost in that shuffle that was going on in NY at that time."[7]

Despite having their album shelved, the band embarked on "The $12 Riot Tour" on October 31 with Dope, Skinlab and Society 1.[8] The next year, Primer 55 performed as the opening act at the 2002 Gathering of the Juggalos in Peoria, Illinois.[9]

First hiatus (2003–2006)

In 2003, the band went on hiatus after struggles with record labels and internal issues among bandmates. Burns joined Soulfly, a band he had met while touring with Ozzfest 2000. He toured the world and released four albums as the band's bass player. J-Sin would unfortunately battle alcohol and drug addiction, with Burns later describing him as not "in any shape to tour or anything like that for a really long time."[7]

Reformation, aborted third album and second hiatus (2007–2024)

When Soulfly went on hiatus in 2007, Crash Music contacted Burns, inspiring him to reform Primer 55 with J-Sin and join fellow Crash Music band Love Said No. The "Crash Music Metal Crusade Tour" took both bands out on the road together in late 2007[10] and the band released the EP Family for Life, a collection of previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1998 and 2002, on November 6.[11]

At an early 2008 performance, rapper Donny "The DRP" Polinske attended a Primer 55 performance in hopes of interesting Burns and J-Sin to guest on a track for his solo album. After only three weeks of touring, however, J-Sin was forced to exit the band due to poor performances and costly antics caused by continued drug and alcohol addictions that would eventually land him in rehab. While J-Sin was replaced temporarily by Heath Joyce, a longtime friend of Burns,[7][12] officially The DRP would become Primer 55's next vocalist, performing with the band at the 2008 Gathering of the Juggalos alongside 2 Live Crew, Ice-T, and Twiztid.

In 2009, Primer 55 released the song "FlexinTemplate:'" with an accompanying music video.[13] A full-length album titled New American Gangsters was in the works[14] until January 2010 when Burns fired all of the other band members.[15] Later that year, the band's MySpace page announced that J-Sin had returned to the band, yet the band also resumed recording and performing with The DRP.[16]

In early 2012, Primer 55 began playing acoustic sets through the midwestern and southeastern United States after Burns was inspired by watching old MTV Unplugged performances by bands like Nirvana and Korn.[17] In 2012, As Seen on TV was reissued under the title The Big Fuck You, with bonus tracks.

Primer 55 went on indefinite hiatus on October 7, 2015, as Burns would work on his band, Murder the Flesh.

On August 10, 2018, J-Sin died at the age of 40 after a longtime battle with Hepatitis C.[18]

During December 2019, there was talk of new shows to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Introduction to Mayhem in 2020.[19]

Second reunion (2025–present)

On June 1, 2025, it was confirmed that Primer 55 had once again reunited, with the lineup featuring vocalist Donny "The DRP" Polinske, guitarist Bobby Burns, bassist Joshua Toomey and drummer Preston Nash.[2]

Members

Current members

  • Bobby Burns – guitars (1997–2003, 2007–2015, 2025–present), vocals (2010–2015)
  • Joshua Toomey – bass (2003, 2007–2010, 2025–present)
  • Donny "The DRP" Polinske – vocals (2008–2010, 2025–present)
  • Preston Nash – drums (2001–2003, 2025–present)

Former members

  • Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell – vocals (1997–2003, 2007, 2010) (died 2018)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Josh McLane – drums (2000–2001)
  • Mike "Jr." Christopher – bass (2000–2001)
  • Kobie Jackson – bass (2002–2003)
  • Darren Walling - bass (2014-2015)
  • Heath Shaw – drums (2011–2015)
  • Joey Busciglio - guitar (2013-2015)
  • Nic Bell – bass (2012–2014)

Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1997 till:12/24/2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

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 id:vocals     value:red          legend:Lead_vocals
 id:guitar      value:green        legend:Guitar
 id:bass        value:blue         legend:Bass
 id:drums       value:orange       legend:Drums
 id:studio      value:black        legend:Studio_album
 id:other       value:gray(0.6)    legend:EP
 id:bars        value:gray(0.95)

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at:11/06/2007

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bar:Jason   text:"Jason Luttrell"
bar:Donny   text:"Donny Polinske"
bar:Bobby   text:"Bobby Burns"
bar:Joey    text:"Joey Busciglio"
bar:Mike    text:"Mike Christopher"
bar:Kobie   text:"Kobie Jackson"
bar:Joshua  text:"Joshua Toomey"
bar:Nic     text:"Nic Bell"
bar:Darren  text:"Darren Walling"
bar:Josh    text:"Josh McLane"
bar:Preston text:"Preston Nash"
bar:Heath   text:"Heath Shaw"
bar:Grover  text:"Grover Norton"

PlotData= 

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Jason   from:01/01/1997 till:07/01/2003    color:vocals
bar:Jason   from:07/20/2007 till:12/01/2007    color:vocals
bar:Jason   from:03/01/2010 till:07/01/2010    color:vocals
bar:Donny   from:08/07/2008 till:01/17/2010    color:vocals
bar:Donny   from:06/01/2025 till:end           color:vocals
bar:Bobby   from:01/01/1997 till:07/01/2003    color:guitar
bar:Bobby   from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2000    color:bass   width:3
bar:Bobby   from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2000    color:drums  width:3
bar:Bobby   from:07/20/2007 till:01/01/2013    color:guitar
bar:Bobby   from:02/01/2001 till:09/01/2002    color:bass  width:3
bar:Bobby   from:07/01/2010 till:01/01/2013    color:vocals width:3
bar:Bobby   from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2015    color:vocals
bar:Bobby   from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2015    color:guitar width:3
bar:Bobby   from:06/01/2025 till:end           color:guitar
bar:Joey    from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2015    color:guitar
bar:Mike    from:01/01/2000 till:02/01/2001    color:bass
bar:Kobie   from:09/01/2002 till:02/01/2003    color:bass
bar:Joshua  from:02/01/2003 till:07/01/2003    color:bass
bar:Joshua  from:07/20/2007 till:01/17/2010    color:bass
bar:Nic     from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2014    color:bass
bar:Darren  from:01/01/2014 till:10/07/2015    color:bass
bar:Joshua  from:06/01/2025 till:end           color:bass
bar:Josh    from:01/01/2000 till:02/01/2001    color:drums
bar:Preston from:02/01/2001 till:07/01/2003    color:drums
bar:Heath   from:01/01/2011 till:04/01/2013    color:drums
bar:Grover  from:04/01/2013 till:10/07/2015    color:drums
bar:Preston from:06/01/2025 till:end           color:drums
</timeline>

Discography

Albums

Album information
Introduction to Mayhem
  • Released: January 25, 2000 (U.S.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Label: Island Records
  • Chart positions: –
  • US sales: 100,000+[20]
(The) New Release
  • Released: August 14, 2001 (U.S.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Label: Island Records
  • Chart positions: No. 102 (Billboard 200)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • US sales: 75,000+[21]

Other releases

  • As Seen on TV (1999)
  • Bootleg I/Bootleg II (2005)
  • Family for Life (2007)
  • The Big Fuck You (2012)

Singles

  • "Loose" (2000)[22]
  • "Set It Off" (2000)[23]
  • "Appetite for Destruction" (2000)[24]
  • "This Life" (2001)[25]

References

Template:Reflist

External links

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