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

A Case of Pride
Skrewdriver Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're wondering how you'll make it through the day
Pack your bag and then you'll get up on your way

Chorus:
Once you had the money baby, and you didn't have to steal
You're a case of pride and I know just how you feel

You can't go home 'cause they'll see that you have failed
Can't afford much food and you're looking pale

(Repeat Chorus)

Solo

Once you had so many true ambitions in your head
Now you sleep in a railway arch but you can't afford no bed
Once they told you about the things that they'd achieved
Made you feel so useless that you had to leave

(Repeat Chorus) x3

Overall Meaning

The song "A Case of Pride" by Skrewdriver talks about the struggles of a person who was once wealthy and successful but has now fallen from grace. The lyrics depict a sense of shame and desperation as the person struggles to make ends meet while dealing with the loss of their former identity as a successful person. The first verse talks about the difficulty of facing the day when you have nothing to look forward to except the struggle to survive. The person is forced to pack their bag and leave their current situation, most likely in search of a better life.

The chorus speaks to the person's former life of wealth and how they are now different from that time. They are now a "case of pride," meaning that they are filled with a sense of stubbornness and refuse to accept help from others. The lyrics describe how they feel, acknowledging that they once had money but had to resort to stealing just to survive. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the person's struggling situation and their stubborn refusal to accept help from anyone.

The second verse of the song speaks to the person's former aspirations and how they now live in a railway arch, unable to afford a bed. The lyrics describe the person's sense of inadequacy and how they were made to feel useless by others who achieved great things. The song ends with another repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the person's pride and their ongoing struggle to survive.

Line by Line Meaning

You're wondering how you'll make it through the day
You're anxious and unsure about how you'll manage to get through the day

Pack your bag and then you'll get up on your way
You'll prepare your bag and then leave for your daily chores

Once you had the money baby, and you didn't have to steal
You used to have money and didn't need to resort to stealing

You're a case of pride and I know just how you feel
Despite your hardships, you still have a sense of pride and I can relate to that

You can't go home 'cause they'll see that you have failed
You can't return to your home because you feel embarrassed by your failure

Can't afford much food and you're looking pale
You don't have sufficient funds to buy adequate food, and as a result, you have become malnourished

Once you had so many true ambitions in your head
You once had numerous genuine aspirations

Now you sleep in a railway arch but you can't afford no bed
Currently, you sleep in a railway arch because you don't have enough money to afford a bed

Once they told you about the things that they'd achieved
People once shared their accomplishments with you

Made you feel so useless that you had to leave
Their success made you feel inferior and inferiority forced you to withdraw

You're a case of pride and I know just how you feel
Regardless of everything, you retain your sense of pride, and I can understand that

Once you had the money baby, and you didn't have to steal
You were previously financially comfortable and wouldn't have to resort to stealing

You're a case of pride and I know just how you feel
Despite your hardships, you still have a sense of pride and I can relate to that

Once you had the money baby, and you didn't have to steal
You were previously financially comfortable and wouldn't have to resort to stealing

You're a case of pride and I know just how you feel
Regardless of everything, you retain your sense of pride, and I can understand that

Once you had the money baby, and you didn't have to steal
You were previously financially comfortable and wouldn't have to resort to stealing

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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