Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell, who sang for the Tennessee nu-metal group Primer 55, died yesterday (August 10th) after a long battle with Hepatitis C. According to a GoFundMe page created in 2016 to help cover his medical fees, the vocalist contracted the virus from a blood transfusion when he was three years old after being struck by a car. A post on the band's Facebook page confirmed the news of his death.
Primer 55's founding guitarist/vocalist Bobby Burns, who would later play with Soulfly, commented on his former bandmate's passing on Facebook. "At 8:31 pm central time yesterday I lost a person that was once my very best friend in the world," he wrote. "Riding around Memphis TN on skate boards in the middle of the night and being stupid. Writing songs. Talking about dreams. Our dream came true and we signed a record deal that would forever change our lives.
"It was a roller coaster that turned best friends into business partners and boredom that turned business partners into reckless humans that made lots of bad choices. We had ALOT of fun at times but also a lot of drama. I'm sad we never got the chance to reconnect on any level. My prayers are with your family. Rest easy Jason Luttrell."
Luttrell sang for Primer 55 from 1997 to 2003, appearing on their albums Introduction to Mayhem and (The) New Release, and fronting them during their run on Ozzfest 2000. Amid struggles with substance abuse, he split with the band in the early Aughts, briefly returning in 2007.
"Jason was the voice of not only Primer 55, but as well as the voice of an era and a kind human being," the band's ex-bassist Joshua Toomey stated, according to Metal Nexus. "He had his troubles and vices but in the end will be missed by all."
