Skrewdriver

Not to be confused withscrewdriver,Screwdriver (musician),orSwervedriver.

Skrewdriver
Background information
Origin	Poulton-le-Fylde,Lancashire,England
Genres	Punk rock Oi!
Years active	1976–1979, 1982–1993
Labels	Chiswick Rock-O-Rama White Noise
Past members	Ian Stuart Donaldson Martin Cross Merv Shields Phil Walmsley Ron Hartley Kevin McKay John "Grinny" Grinton Jim "Sturmfuhrer" Rice Mark Radcliffe

Skrewdriverwere an Englishpunk rockband formed byIan Stuart DonaldsoninPoulton-le-Fylde,Lancashire,in 1976. Originally apunkband,Skrewdriver changed into awhite power skinheadrock band after reuniting in the 1980s.Their original line-up split in January 1979 and Donaldson reformed the band with different musicians in 1982.This new version of the band played a leading role in theRock Against Communismmovement.

The band fell apart after Donaldson died in a car crash in 1993.

Career

Ian Stuart Donaldson, formerly of thecover bandTumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver as apunk rockband inPoulton-le-Fyldein 1976.At first, Skrewdriver sported apunk appearance,but they later changed their image to askinheadlook. In 1978, Donaldson moved toManchester,where he recruited guitarist Glenn Jones and drummer Martin Smith. With Kevin MacKay on bass, this lineup toured extensively and built a strong following, but certain venues were reluctant to book the band because of their reputation as a violent skinhead band. Performing largely for a skinhead audience, the first versions of the band released one album and two singles onChiswick Records.Skrewdriver briefly adopted arocker/biker-influenced look around the time they released the EPBuilt Up Knocked Down(1979).

Donaldson resurrected the band name Skrewdriver in 1982 with a new band line-up. Although the original band had a minor reputation for attracting violence at their concerts -Boomtown RatsfrontmanBob Geldofwas reportedly knocked unconscious by a friend of Donaldson who believed that Skrewdriver's sound had been sabotaged- they did not openly support any political ideology or organisation.

The re-formed Skrewdriver eventually became openly supportive ofwhite nationalistgroups, after a lengthy period of publicly denying such support.The band released the single "White Power" in 1983 and their second album,Hail the New Dawn,in 1984. Although both Skrewdriver and the bandSham 69had skinhead followings and racist fans early in their careers, Sham 69 denounced racism and performed atRock Against Racismconcerts.Donaldson eventually aligned himself withneo-Nazism,saying: "I would describe myself as a BritishNational Socialist,not aGerman one,and so don't think I'm at odds with Britishpatriots."The band became associated with theNational FrontandBritish National Party,raising funds for them (and affiliated organisations) through the White Noise record label. They released records onRock-O-Rama,a label that became known for National Socialist sympathies. Skrewdriver was instrumental in setting upBlood & Honour,a neo-Nazi music promotion network.

Their songSmash the IRAbecame popular amongst Loyalists in Northern Ireland. It was one of a number of Skrewdriver songs covered by a Belfast band calledOffensive Weapon,who also covered songs by Black artists such asChuck Berry.

Some members of the original Skrewdriver line-up objected strongly to the new direction in which Donaldson took the band. Roger Armstrong of Chiswick Records said:

It is a shame that the name was dragged through the gutter like that. The other three guys in the band were really pissed off too. Grinny the drummer came from solid northernsocialiststock... When they made records for us Ian Stuart showed no signs offascism.The skinhead image was a — maybe in hindsight misconceived — fashion thing. It was cooked up by a bunch of us, including the band's then-management and the photographer Peter Kodik.

However, John "Grinny" Grinton later stated in an interview that he had no problem with the new Skrewdriver, and that he became a member of the National Front along with Donaldson.

Donaldson died in a car crash on 24 September 1993. A friend and fellow Neo-Nazi, Stephen Lee Flint, died from injuries sustained in the crash the following day.Donaldson's death catalyzed the demise of Skrewdriver, and had a strong impact in thewhite power rockscene.John "Grinny" Grinton died from cancer in June 2005.

Merv Shields died on 1 January 2022 due toCOVID-19complications.

Members

1977-1979

• Ian Stuart Donaldson- guitar, vocals
• Kevin "Kev" McKay - bass (1976-1978, 1978)
• John Grinton - drums (1976-1978, 1979)
• Phil Walmsley - bass, guitar (1976-1977, 1978)
• Ron Hartley - guitar (1977-1978)
• Mark Radcliffe- drums (1978-1979)
• Gary "Gaz" Chammings - guitar (1978)
• Pete Corley - guitar (1978)
• Chris Cummings - guitar (1978-1979)
• Glen Jones - guitar (1979)
• Martin Smith - drums (1979)

1982-1993

• Ian Stuart Donaldson- guitar, vocals
• Mark French - bass (1982-1984)
• Mark Meeson - guitar (1982-1983)
• Geoff Williams - drums (1982-1983)
• Mark Sutherland - drums (1984-1987)
• Scotty - drums (1984-1987)
• Adam Douglas - guitar (1984-1986)
• Murray Holmes - bass (1984)
• Paul Swain - guitar (1984-1987)
• Steve "Stiv / Iena / A." Roda - bass (1985-1986)
• Mervyn "Big Merv" Shields - bass (1986-1989)
• Martin Cross - guitar (1987-1988)
• Ross McGarry - guitar (?)
• John Burnley - drums (1987-1991)
• Steve "Stigger" Calladine - guitar, piano (1990-1993)
• Jon "Smiley / Icky" Hickson - bass (1990-1993)
• Paul "Mushy" Marshall - drums (1991-1993)
• Mark French
• Geoff Williams
• Mark Neeson
• Joseph Smith
• Murray Holmes
• Dave Wane
• Colin Smith
• Mike French
• Andrew Skinner
• Ford Freemantle

Discography

Studio albums

"Hail Victory" redirects here. For the Nazi chant, seeSieg Heil.

• All Skrewed Up(1977) (Chiswick) (later re-issued asThe Early Yearswith extra tracks)
• Hail the New Dawn(1984) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Blood & Honour(1985) (Rock-O-Rama)
• White Rider(1987) (Rock-O-Rama)
• After the Fire(1988) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Warlord(1989) (Rock-O-Rama)
• The Strong Survive(1990) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Freedom What Freedom(1992) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Hail Victory(1994) (Asgard Records – A division of Rock-O-Rama)
• Undercover(2007) (collection of cover songs)

12 "EPs

• Back with a Bang / I Don't Like You(1982) (SKREW1 label)
• Boots & Braces(1987) (previously released tracks) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Voice of Britain(1987) (previously released tracks) (Rock-O-Rama)

Singles

• "You're So Dumb" / "Better Off Crazy" (1977) (Chiswick)
• "Antisocial" / "Breakdown" (1977) (Chiswick)
• "Street Fight" / "Unbeliever" (1977) (Chiswick – recorded but not released)
• "Built Up, Knocked Down" / "Case of Pride" / "Breakout" (1979) (TJM label)
• "White Power" / "Smash the IRA" / "Shove the Dove" (1983) (White Noise)
• "Voice of Britain" / "Sick Society" (1984) (White Noise)
• "Invasion" / "On the Streets" (1984) (Rock-O-Rama)
• "After the Fire" / "Sweet Home Alabama(cover version ofLynyrd Skynyrd) "(1988) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Land of Ice" / "Retaliate" (1988) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Their Kingdom Will Fall" / "Simple Man" (1989) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "The Evil Crept In" / "Glory" (1989) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "The Showdown" / "Deep Inside" (1990) (White Pride Records)
• "You're So Dumb" / "The Only One" (1990) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Streetfight" / "Where's It Gonna End" (1990) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Stand Proud" / "Backstabber" (1991) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Warzone" / "Shining Down" (1991) (Street Rock'n'Roll)

Live albums

• Live Marquee(1977)
• We've Got the Power(1987) (Viking) (live) (reissued on CD with bonus live & demo tracks)
• Live and Kicking(1991) (Rock-O-Rama) (double album)
• Live at Waterloo(1995) (ISD/White Terror) (recorded 12 September 1992)
• This One's for the Skinheads(live, recorded 23 April 1987)
• The Last Gig in Germany(1996)

Radio

• PeelSession(1977)BBC Radio 1

Songs on compilations

• "Government Action" onCatch a Wave(1978) – 10-inch 2×LP by NICE
• "You're So Dumb" onLong Shots, Dead Certs and Odds On Favorites (Chiswick Chartbusters Vol.2)(1978) – LP by Chiswick
• "When the Boat Comes In" onThis Is White Noise(1983) – 7-inch EP featuring three other bands
• "Boots & Braces" and "Antisocial" onUnited Skins(1982) – LP by The Last Resort shop
• "Don't Let Them" and "Tearing Down the Wall" onNo Surrender(1985) – LP by Rock-O-Rama
• "Land of Ice", "Free Men" and "The New Boss" onGods of War 1(1987) – LP by Street Rock & Roll
• "Rising" and "We Can't Be Beaten" onGods of War 2(1989) – LP by Street Rock & Roll
• "Antisocial" onThe Ugly Truth About Blackpool(2005) – CD by Just Say No to Government Music
• "Night Trains" onBallads of Blood and Honor(?) – CD by Unknown Grito sudaka

See also

• List of neo-Nazi bands

Further reading

• White Noise: Inside the International Nazi Skinhead Scene.Edited by Nick Lowles and Steve Silver, London 1998.ISBN0-9522038-3-9.
• Skrewdriver: The First Ten Years – The Way It's Got to Be!by Joe Pearce. Skrewdriver Services, London 1987.
• Ian Stuart – His Message Across to You. Everlasting Songs.Excalibur Services, Antwerp 1995.
• Diamond in the Dust – The Ian Stuart Biography.Blood and Honour England, London 2002.
• Nazi Rock Star – Ian Stuart-Skrewdriver Biographyby Paul London (a.k.a. Paul Burnley of No Remorse). Midgård, Gothenburg 2002.
• Ian Stuart Donaldson – Memoriesby Mark Green. PC Records, Chemnitz 2007.
• Ian Stuart Donaldson – Rock'n Roll Patriot (Memories II)by Mark Green. Mark Green, 2012.

External links

• Skrewdriver.com