Skrewdriver was originally an apolitical punk rock band that upon their sec… Read Full Bio ↴Skrewdriver was originally an apolitical punk rock band that upon their second release took a turn into white power skinhead centered music. They formed in Poulton-le-Fylde, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Stuart Donaldson. They became one of the first nationalist rock bands, playing a leading role in the third position rock against communism (rac) movement. Ian's death in September 1993 ended the group.

=>Beginning History
Ian Stuart Donaldson, formerly of The Rolling Stones cover band Tumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver after seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester. Skrewdriver at first had a punk appearance, but they changed their image into a skinhead look in 1977. They also temporarily had a rocker/biker look, around the time they released the EP Built Up Knocked Down. In 1978, Donaldson moved to Salford, where he recruited guitarist Glenn Jones and drummer Martin Smith. This lineup toured extensively, but many venues were reluctant to book the band because of their reputation as a violent skinhead band attracting audience fights.

Performing largely for a skinhead fan-base, the first versions of the band released one album and two singles on the Chiswick label. This version of the band split up in January 1979 after a concert in Warrington, but Donaldson resurrected the name Skrewdriver in 1982 using new musicians. Several past individuals associated with the group, many of them politically left-wing or centrist, have condemned the latter third position incarnation.

=>Band Musicians And More History
As mentioned, Skrewdriver inherited its first line-up from it’s predecessor, the band Tumbling Dice, which Donaldson had formed in 1975. They felt influenced by contemporary hard rock as well as seminal punk contemporaries such as the Ramones and The Clash. They were Ian Stuart Donaldson, Kev McKay, John Grinton and Phil Walmsley. When the band changed from punk to skinhead, Walmsley bowed out and was substituted with skinhead Ron Hartley. The 1977 release All Skrewed Up managed to give the group considerable underground success, and it's been regarded since as an early punk classic. However, by 1978, the band disbanded.

Both moving to Salford’s Cheetham Hill, McKay and Donaldson reformed the band in 1979 with local Manchester talents Glenn Jones and Martin Smith. Skrewdriver became a regular act at the Mayflower club in Belle Vue and toured local gig venues around Greater Manchester. The version of the band was to be short-lived and, after an ill-fated concert in Warrington in 1980, the band fell apart again.

This time, Donaldson left all the others behind and moved on his own down to London. By 1981, Skrewdriver had reformed for the 3rd time, still with Ian Stuart Donaldson of course. The new additions were Mark Neeson, Mark French and Geoff Williams. French and Williams had previously played with The Elite.

It was this line-up that released the 12” EP 'Back With A Bang' on Last Resort Records in 1982. External pressure on the band took its toll, and, by 1984, all three had left the band. Donaldson recruited Mark Sutherland, Adam Douglas, and Murray Holmes. Holmes, an Australian, had previously played with the band Quick And The Dead. Skrewdriver soon released their LP Invasion on the newly-signed West German label Rock-o-Rama Records, which would stay faithful to the band until the tragic end. The line-up was strengthened with Steve Roda coming in the following year.

Touring extensively once again, by 1987 the line-up is described on artwork as Ian Stuart (Donaldson), Mark Sutherland, Martin Cross, Ross McGarry, Merv Shields, and John Burnley who was the brother of No Remorse’s Paul Burnley. Steve Calladine, better known as Stigger, joined Skrewdriver in late 1987. Donaldson also launched a solo career as Ian Stuart with the release of solo material backed by a group known as 'Strikeforce', which essentially was the remaining band. Skrewdriver as a band continued, however, in parallel with Donaldson’s solo career.

In 1990, the sprawling line-up was added to with John Hickson. Over the 80s, the group released a variety of albums, many of them striking a chord with disillusioned British youths unhappy with both Thatcherism and the Labour alternative, much to the alarm of the mainstream press. Skrewdriver concerts were, although planned in advance, highly secretive, and Donaldson faced many attempts on his life. Releases at this time prominently included the albums Boots & Braces, Blood & Honour, and Hail The New Dawn.

On the 24th of September 1993, Ian Stuart Donaldson died from the injuries sustained in a car-crash the previous evening and with him the band Skrewdriver ceased. Although subject to a large variety of conspiracy theories, most fans have agreed that the death was a surprising, sudden accident. Since then, countless benefit and remembrance gigs has been played in his and the band’s honour, with virtually every rock against communism band worth their salt, producing a Skrewdriver cover.

=>Labels
During their 17-year career, Skrewdriver were signed by five labels:

1977 - Chiswick Records
1979 - TJM Manchester
1982 - Last Resort Sounds
1982 - White Noise Records
1984 - Rock-O-Rama Records
(This list does not include compilations and spin-off work)

=>Members List
(Initial Band)
Ian Stuart Donaldson - Vocals & Guitar
Phil Walmsley - Guitar
Ron Hartley - Guitar
Kev McKay - Bass
John "Grinny" Grinton - Drums

(Other Members)
Glenn Jones
Martin Cross
Dave Cording
Bradley Napier
Mark French
Geoff Williams
Mark Neeson
Joseph Smith
Adam Douglas
Merv Shields
Murray Holmes
Dave Wane
Paul Swain
Stiv "Iena" Roda
Stigger
John Burnley
Colin Smith
Mushy
Mike French
Mark Radcliffe
Andrew Skinner
Ford Freemantle

9 till 5
Skrewdriver Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Another Monday morning, another day
Come Friday evening, when you collect your pay

Chorus:
Like working from nine till five
Making a mess of my mind

I'm filing papers, in long gray drawers
And my brain's disintegrating, what a bore

(Repeat Chorus)

Well I do think civil servants and bankers are real wankers

Well the boss is knockin' me, he said come on quick
Well my temper's rising, I said you make me sick

(Repeat Chorus) x2

If you don't get out of that, you need your head examined

Overall Meaning

In the song "9 till 5" by Skrewdriver, the lyrics depict the struggles of working a monotonous job from nine to five, from Monday to Friday, and how it can lead to a mental breakdown. The singer expresses their frustration with the dullness of their job while they complete mundane tasks such as filing papers in long gray drawers. They find that their brain is slowly deteriorating, making work a bore. The chorus reinforces this sentiment as they state that working from nine till five is making a mess of their mind. The singer even goes so far as to say that civil servants and bankers are real wankers, implying that their jobs are just as dull and meaningless.

As the song progresses, we hear the singer's boss knocking them, asking them to hurry up. This only aggravates the singer, causing their temper to rise, and they tell their boss that they make them sick. The chorus is repeated twice more, emphasizing the frustration and exhaustion of the singer in their daily work life. At the end of the song, the singer offers a warning to those who continue to work in such monotonous jobs, stating that they need their head examined if they do not get out.

Overall, "9 till 5" is a commentary on the struggles of working a job that offers no fulfillment. It is a critique on the drudgery of certain careers and how they can lead to a person's mental breakdown. The song warns people not to fall into this trap and to regain control of their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Another Monday morning, another day
Starting another week of work routine.

Come Friday evening, when you collect your pay
Looking forward to the weekend and payday as the only solace.

Like working from nine till five
Denoting the working hours of a typical office job.

Making a mess of my mind
Expressing frustration, boredom and monotony of the job.

I'm filing papers, in long gray drawers
Performing a menial task of filing papers in a drab and dull workplace.

And my brain's disintegrating, what a bore
Feeling demotivated, unchallenged and monotony leads to a cerebral decline.

Well I do think civil servants and bankers are real wankers
Holding contempt and disdain for people in authority, who are perceived to have cushy jobs.

Well the boss is knockin' me, he said come on quick
Experiencing the micromanagement style and unrealistic demands of a boss.

Well my temper's rising, I said you make me sick
Feeling emotional distress and anger in response to the boss's behavior.

If you don't get out of that, you need your head examined
Believing that working such a dull job for extended periods is mental unhealthy and resulting in depression.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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