Primer 55

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Primer 55
Origin Memphis, Tennessee
Genres Nu metal,[1] rap metal,[1]
Years active 1997–2003, 2007–present
Labels Island
Associated acts Soulfly
Killer In The Workplace
Love Said No
Members Bobby Burns
Nicholas Bell Sr.
Joey Busciglio
Athan Mireles
Past members Heath Joyce
Josh McLane
John Kamoosi
Mike "Jr." Christopher
Kobie Jackson
John Stainer
Preston Nash
Tim Lau
Josh Toomey
Frank Fontsere

Brian Hill
Steve Snyder
Curt Taylor
Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell
Mattytime
Heath Shaw

Primer 55 is an American nu metal band from Louisville, Kentucky.[2] The name originates 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".[3]

Formation

Primer 55 was formed in 1997 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.[3] Burns' heavy metal music influences and J-Sin's hip hop influences melded to create the band's rap rock sound.[4] Bassist Mike "Jr." Christopher and drummer Josh McLane were then added to complete the lineup.

Rise

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.[4]

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.[4][5] 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.[6]

On August 14, 2001, Primer 55 released their second studio album, (the) New Release. It went to No. 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.[7] 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."

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]

Hiatus and reformation

In 2003, the band went on hiatus after struggles with record labels and internal issues among bandmates. Burns joined Soulfly, a band he'd 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."[10]

When Soufly 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[11] and the band released the EP Family for Life, a collection of previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1998–2002, on November 6.[12]

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,[10][13] 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.[14] A full-length album titled New American Gangsters was in the works[15] until January 2010 when Burns fired all of the other band members.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] In 2012, As Seen On TV was reissued under the title The Big Fuck You, with bonus tracks.

Members

Current members

  • Bobby Burns - vocals / guitar / bass (1997–present)
  • Nicolas Bell Sr.- bass / vocals (2012-Present)
  • Athan Mirele
  • Joey Busciglio - guitar

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Loose" (2000)[19]
  • "Set It Off" (2000)[20]
  • "Appetite For Destruction" (2000)[21]
  • "This Life" (2001)[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/memphis/primer+55
  2. ↑ Staff, Mark (May 22, 2000). "Stroke 9 puts a fine ending on K-Rock Spring Thing". Syracuse, New York: The Post-Standard. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.voxonline.com/alternative/primer_55/vox_interviews_primer_55.htm
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Loehr, Josh. "Biography of Primer 55". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  5. ↑ Manicini, Robert (August 25, 2000). "Soulfly Taps Downset, Primer 55, Slaves On Dope For Tour". MTV News. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  6. ↑ http://www.theprp.com/thevault/interviews/primer551.shtml
  7. ↑ "Charts and awards for The New Release". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  8. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73807/dope-to-incite-12-riot-tour
  9. ↑ "Main Stage, Saturday 7-7:30PM: Primer 55". Psychopathic Records. Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://puregrainaudio.com/interviews/primer-55
  11. ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77692
  12. ↑ "PRIMER 55 Signs With CRASH MUSIC". blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 4 December 2008. 
  13. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/news.php?newsid=4918
  14. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMu3zwC_9A
  15. ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166295
  16. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/news.php?newsid=12339
  17. ↑ http://www.culturealternative.com/2012/01/06/whats-all-this-ruckus-the-drp-interview/#.Txhkm2_DBAq
  18. ↑ http://qctimes.com/entertainment/music/primer-leader-steps-back-for-acoustic-show/article_a41fa7a4-3717-11e1-b82c-0019bb2963f4.html
  19. ↑ http://www.cdandlp.com/item/2/0-1101-0-1-0/114768652/primer-55-introduction-to-mayhem.html
  20. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Relative-AshPrimer-55-Split-Sampler/release/3250215
  21. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Various-Rebirth-Of-The-Loud/release/1854644
  22. ↑ http://www.cdandlp.com/item/2/0-2101-0-1-0/1063067604/primer-55-this-life-radio-mix.html

External links

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