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

Confusion
Skrewdriver Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the counselors, in Blackpool
With their poxy cars, can just fuck off
You're much too old, to persecute us
Bet your sick about the local publicity huh? Thank you!

Chorus:
Too much confusion
Too much confusion
Too much confusion, out there

( ? ), spouting shit
Well you ain't too convincing
You know you can't fool everybody
All the violence, all the reporters sniffing around
Tomorrow's headlines, we all know who's gonna get the blame, don't we huh?

(Repeat Chorus)

There's so many people, condemning me
They're just trying to dictate, tell me what to think
Well I don't need your prayers, I don't need your write-ups
And I don't need your putdowns, so just go and mess with someone else's life will ya?

(Repeat Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song Confusion convey resentment towards authority figures who are trying to suppress and control the singer and others like him. The opening lines, "All the counselors, in Blackpool / With their poxy cars, can just fuck off," suggest a lack of respect towards counselors who are seen as out of touch and insincere in their attempts to control and regulate behavior. The singer then goes on to assert their independence and reject attempts to control their thinking, asserting "Well I don't need your prayers, I don't need your write-ups / And I don't need your putdowns, so just go and mess with someone else's life will ya?"

The repeated chorus, "Too much confusion / Too much confusion / Too much confusion, out there," expresses a feeling of disorientation and a sense that the world around the singer is chaotic and difficult to navigate. The singer seems to be rebelling against a society that they perceive as oppressive and insincere, with police, reporters, and other authority figures posing a threat to their freedom.

Overall, the song seems to be a call for individualism and self-determination in the face of societal pressures to conform and comply with the expectations of others. The singer is defiant in the face of attempts to control their life and thinking, rejecting the role of authority figures and insisting on their right to make their own choices.

Line by Line Meaning

All the counselors, in Blackpool
Referring to government officials who are trying to regulate or control their behavior

With their poxy cars, can just fuck off
Their cars suck and they are not impressed by them

You're much too old, to persecute us
Older generation trying to impose their beliefs on younger ones.

Bet your sick about the local publicity huh? Thank you!
Thank you for making their movement more popular.

Too much confusion
There is too much chaos and uncertainty in the world.

Too much confusion, out there
There is too much chaos and uncertainty in the world.

( ? ), spouting shit
People who are talking nonsense.

Well you ain't too convincing
They are not convinced by what the person is saying.

You know you can't fool everybody
Not everyone can be tricked by their lies.

All the violence, all the reporters sniffing around
There is a lot of violence happening and the media is covering it.

Tomorrow's headlines, we all know who's gonna get the blame, don't we huh?
People of their political beliefs will get blamed regardless of whether they participate in violent behavior or not.

There's so many people, condemning me
There are many people who do not agree with their ideals.

They're just trying to dictate, tell me what to think
Those who disagree with their beliefs are trying to control their thoughts.

Well I don't need your prayers, I don't need your write-ups
Do not need people to tell them what to believe or to tell them what they doing wrong.

And I don't need your putdowns, so just go and mess with someone else's life will ya?
Do not need people to tell them they are wrong or insult them.

Too much confusion
There is too much chaos and uncertainty in the world.

Too much confusion, out there
There is too much chaos and uncertainty in the world.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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