Primer 55

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Primer 55
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Primer 55 live at Water Street Hall - Rochester, NY
Background information
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OriginMemphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedScript error: No such module "person date".
GenresPage Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
Years activePage Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 1997–2003
  • 2007–2015
  • 2025–present
LabelTemplate:Pluralize from textPage Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
Members
  • Bobby Burns
  • Joshua Toomey
  • Donny "The DRP" Polinske
  • Preston Nash
Past membersSee members section

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Primer 55 is an American nu metal band 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".[7] 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.[8]

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.[7] Burns' heavy metal music influences and J-Sin's hip hop influences melded to create the band's rap rock sound.[9] 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, Hed PE frontman Jared Gomes, and Relative Ash frontman Mark Harrington.[9]

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.[9][10] 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.[11]

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.[12] 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."[6]

Despite having their album shelved, the band embarked on "The $12 Riot Tour" on October 31 with Dope, Skinlab and Society 1.[13] The next year, Primer 55 performed as the opening act at the 2002 Gathering of the Juggalos in Peoria, Illinois.[14]

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."[6]

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[15] and the band released the EP Family for Life, a collection of previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1998 and 2002, on November 6.[16]

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,[6][17] 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 "Flexin'" with an accompanying music video.[18] A full-length album titled New American Gangsters was in the works[19] until January 2010 when Burns fired all of the other band members.[20] 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.[21]

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.[22] 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.[23]

During December 2019, there was talk of new shows to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Introduction to Mayhem in 2020.[24]

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.[8]

Members

Current members

  • Bobby Burns – guitars (1997–2003, 2007–2015, 2025–present), vocals (2010–2015)
  • Joshua Toomey – bass (2003, 2007–2010, 2025–present)
  • Donny "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)
  • Josh McLane – drums (2000–2001)
  • Mike "Jr." Christopher – bass (2000–2001)
  • Kobie Jackson – bass (2002–2003)
  • Nic Bell – bass (2012–2014)
  • Heath Shaw – drums (2011–2015)
  • Joey Busciglio - guitar (2013–2015)
  • Darren Walling - bass (2014–2015)

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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"

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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
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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
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Discography

Albums

Album information
Introduction to Mayhem
  • Released: January 25, 2000 (U.S.)
  • Label: Island
  • Chart positions: –
  • US sales: 100,000+[25]
(The) New Release
  • Released: August 14, 2001 (U.S.)
  • Label: Island
  • Chart positions: No. 102 (Billboard 200)
  • US sales: 75,000+[26]

Other releases

  • As Seen on TV (1999)
  • Bootleg I/Bootleg II (2005)
  • Family for Life (2007)
  • The Big Fuck You (2012)
  • Living The Dream By Surviving The Nightmare (2014)

Singles

  • "Loose" (2000)[27]
  • "Set It Off" (2000)[28]
  • "Appetite for Destruction" (2000)[29]
  • "This Life" (2001)[30]

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Udo, Tommy (2002). Brave Nu World. Sanctuary Publishing. p. 229. ISBN 1-86074-415-X.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55". Freetime Magazine. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Olivenbaum, Scott (June 29, 2001). "Fear Factory, Puya, Primer 55, Dry Kill Logic". Blistering. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CD Reviews - Introduction To Mayhem Primer 55". Blabbermouth.net.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cathy Ulrich (December 13, 2007). "Primer 55 rises from the ashes Reunited rock band tops bill for F.O.E. show Wednesday". The Billings Gazette.
  6. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.James Wright. "Interview with Primer 55 guitarist Bobby Burns « Interviews « PureGrainAudio.com". Puregrainaudio.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."VOX Interviews PRIMER 55". Voxonline.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Isabella Ambrosio (June 1, 2025). "Primer 55 Announce They Have Reunited". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Loehr, Josh. "Biography of Primer 55". AllMusic. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Manicini, Robert (August 25, 2000). "Soulfly Taps Downset, Primer 55, Slaves On Dope For Tour". MTV News. Retrieved December 4, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Interview: Primer 55". Theprp.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Charts and awards for The New Release". AllMusic. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Dope To Incite $12 Riot Tour". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Main Stage, Saturday 7-7:30PM: Primer 55". Psychopathic Records. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55, Love Said No To Join Forces For 'Crash Music Metal Crusade Tour' - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved February 15, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PRIMER 55 Signs With CRASH MUSIC". blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55 Change Singers". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55 - "Flexin" - El Haney Video Productions LLC". YouTube. July 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55 Signs With Thc:Music/Rocket Science Ventures - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55 fire members". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  21. ^ [1] Script error: No such module "webarchive".
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.David Burke (January 4, 2012). "Primer 55 leader steps back for acoustic show". Qctimes.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell, Singer of Ozzfest Veterans Primer 55, Dead at 40". Revolvermag.com. August 10, 2018.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Primer 55 Pondering Reuniting For "Introduction To Mayhem" 20th Anniversary Shows". Theprp.com. December 6, 2019.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sludge Scans For February 2002". Metalsludge.tv. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sludge Scans For June & July 2002". Metalsludge.tv. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Introduction To Mayhem by PRIMER 55, CDS with seidboard". Cdandlp.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Relative Ash - Primer 55 – Split Sampler". Discogs.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Various – Rebirth Of The Loud". Discogs.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PRIMER 55". Cdandlp.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.

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