Primer 55
Encyclopedia
History
The band was formed in 1997 by guitarist Bobby Burns, who was influenced by heavy metal musicHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and vocalist J-Sin, who was influenced by hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. Burns and J-Sin enlisted the help of bassist Mike "Jr." Christopher and drummer Josh McLane. After the release of their self-titled debut album on the independent label Propellant Transmissions, Primer 55 signed a contract with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, releasing their second studio album, Introduction to Mayhem
Introduction to Mayhem
-Personnel:*Bass - Mike "Jr." Christopher*drums - Josh McLane*Guitar- Bobby Burns*Scratching - DJ Kilmore *vocals - Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell*backing vocals - Bobby Burns, Rafael "Flip" Hernandez and Rob Caggiano...
on January 25, 2000. The album featured appearances from Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
turntablist
Turntablism
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer.The word 'turntablist' was coined in 1995 by DJ Babu to describe the difference between a DJ who just plays records, and one who performs by touching and moving the records, stylus and mixer...
Chris Kilmore
Chris Kilmore
Chris Kilmore is an American DJ. He is the turntablist and keyboardist of the rock band Incubus.-References:*...
and Hed PE frontman Jared Gomes. In September 2000, Primer 55 toured alongside Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
, downset.
Downset.
downset. was a rapcore group hailing from Los Angeles, California.-Band history:The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity Is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse To Lose under this name with a different lineup in 1992...
, and Slaves on Dope
Slaves on Dope
Slaves on Dope is a Canadian Hard Rock band, based out of Montreal, Canada.The band was formed in the 1993 by Jason Rockman and Avrum Nadigel highly influenced by the "Grunge" era...
.
. On August 14, 2001, Primer 55 released their third studio album, (the) New Release. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Heatseekers chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and #102 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album's single, "This Life" peaked at #37 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In 2002, the band performed as the opening act at the 2002 Gathering of the Juggalo
Juggalo
Juggalo or Juggalette is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics.-History:...
s in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. In 2003 Primer 55 broke up. Bobby Burns soon joined Soulfly as their bassist.
In 2007, the band reformed with original/founding members Bobby Burns and Jason 'J-Sin' Luttrell and signed with Crash Music Inc.. Using Disc2day CD replication, released their fourth studio album, Family for Life on November 6, 2007. After the release of the album, frontman Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell left the band, due to personality clashes with Burns over his drug and alcohol addictions. Heath Joyce was hired as a temporary replacement and did a handful of shows with the band. Donny 'The DRP' Polinske was brought in as Jason's permanent replacement.
Together he and Bobby Burns are working on a new record and have just signed with Artist Worldwide booking agency for worldwide representation.
Band members
- Bobby Burns - guitar (1997–present)
- Mattytime - bass (2011–present)
- Donny Polinske vocals (2008–present)
- Heath Shaw - drums (2011–present)
Former members
- Josh McLane - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1999–2000) - Mike "Jr" Christopher - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1997–2001) - Kobie Jackson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2001–2003) - Preston NashPreston NashPreston Nash is an American musician, drummer, songwriter, music producer, and radio personality. He is best known as the drummer for Dope, Primer 55, and Society 1, as well as producer for The Ralph Bailey Show on 1560 KNZR out of Bakersfield, California.-References:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- (2001–2003) - Josh Toomey - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2003–2008) - Mikey Terito - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2008–2009) - Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell [vocals]
Discography
- Primer 55 (1999)
- Introduction to MayhemIntroduction to Mayhem-Personnel:*Bass - Mike "Jr." Christopher*drums - Josh McLane*Guitar- Bobby Burns*Scratching - DJ Kilmore *vocals - Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell*backing vocals - Bobby Burns, Rafael "Flip" Hernandez and Rob Caggiano...
(2000) - (the) New Release (2001)
- Family for Life [EP] (2007)