=>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
Deep Inside
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And looked down on our land
The green fields and the rivers
And the sea and yellow sands
But now they've locked him in a cell
And took away the key
They can jail our nation's patriots
When he stood upon that hill
He looked up to the sky
He saw the storm clouds gathering
And the heavens full of fire
The struggle for our nation
The people picked their sides
And a fire burned deep inside his heart
The fire of Whitemans' pride
(chorus)
And I said
Deep Inside
Deep Inside
Deep Inside
Is Nation's Pride
The battle was now on him
And he fought with all his strength
Odds were piled against him
And numbers one to ten
Invaders swarmed all over
But his banner still held high
That one flag to him was dear
For it he'd rather die
Enemy was numerous
And his strength was nearly gone
They see the dead lay round the street
But he had to carry on
But very soon the time took its toll
And he was bound and chained
And from the heaven like tears of rage
Down came a pouring rain
(chrous)
They threw him in a dungeon
And they boasted of the fight
The moment they had power
But he was in the right
They took away his liberty
And they tried to crush his pride
But whilst he had his Nation's flag
His hope would never die
The song "Deep Inside" by Skrewdriver speaks of a man who once stood on a hill and looked down on his land with pride--the green fields, rivers, the sea, and yellow sands. The song hints that this man may have been a patriot of his nation. However, the man's patriotism caused him to stand up against the invaders who swarmed all over the land. Despite his strength fading and his enemy being twice as numerous, he refused to back down. He fought until he was bound and chained, and from the heavens, like tears of rage, down came a pouring rain. Even though they took away his freedom and tried to crush his pride, he held onto his nation's flag, which kept his spirit free.
This song can have several interpretations based on context. However, some fans believe that the song hints at a white nationalist ideology that Skrewdriver was known for. The lyrics of the song suggest that the man was a white nationalist patriot who fought against the invaders trying to take over his land. The line, "The fire of Whitemans' pride" further strengthens this interpretation. Moreover, the chorus line, "Deep Inside is Nation's Pride" reinforces the idea that the nation's success rests on the purity of the white race.
On the other hand, some listeners may interpret the song as a nod to nationalism in general. The song might highlight the price patriots pay for standing up for their nation's sovereignty. The line, "They can jail our nation's patriots, but their spirits still roam free," can apply to many movements where the people fighting against the oppressors were jailed, but their message still lived on.
Line by Line Meaning
Once he stood upon a hill
At one time, he stood on a mound of earth
And looked down on our land
From there, he viewed his nation's terrain
The green fields and the rivers
He saw the verdant meadows and the waterways
And the sea and yellow sands
Also, the ocean and beaches of yellowish hue
But now they've locked him in a cell
In the present, they have confined him to a prison room
And took away the key
The captors removed the means of escape
They can jail our nation's patriots
Leaders of our people may be contained in jail cells
But their spirits still roam free
Nevertheless, their identities remain untainted
When he stood upon that hill
In relating the past, he was once in that elevated spot
He looked up to the sky
At some point, his gaze was directed upward
He saw the storm clouds gathering
Thereafter, he observed the cloud formations become denser
And the heavens full of fire
Sky morphed into a full blaze during the conflict
The struggle for our nation
The fight for our people's welfare
The people picked their sides
Individuals selected the faction they'd like to support
And a fire burned deep inside his heart
The emotion of pride was kindled in his innermost self
The fire of Whitemans' pride
This feeling was particularly associated with members of the Caucasoid race
(chorus)
Refrain
And I said
The singer expressed
Deep Inside
From the depths of one's emotions
Deep Inside
From the depths of one's emotions
Deep Inside
From the depths of one's emotions
Is Nation's Pride
Lies the sense of self-importance towards the country
The battle was now on him
The strife now encompassed him
And he fought with all his strength
He exerted all of himself in the fight
Odds were piled against him
The likelihood of succeeding was slim
And numbers one to ten
And they had a considerable amount of support
Invaders swarmed all over
The intruders multiplied all around him
But his banner still held high
He kept his flag aloft and visible despite the chaos
That one flag to him was dear
That specific banner had sentimental value to him
For it he'd rather die
He would sooner expire for its cause
Enemy was numerous
The opposing force multiplied
And his strength was nearly gone
His power became depleted
They see the dead lay round the street
Dead people now littered the road
But he had to carry on
Despite it all, he had to persevere
But very soon the time took its toll
Shortly after, time was not kind to him
And he was bound and chained
He became restricted and tied up
And from the heaven like tears of rage
Angry tears from above fell like rain
Down came a pouring rain
It rained furiously
(chorus)
Refrain
They threw him in a dungeon
The jailers cast him into a subterranean cell
And they boasted of the fight
They took pride in their victory
The moment they had power
The instant they obtained control
But he was in the right
He knew he was on the correct side of the debate
They took away his liberty
They stripped him of his freedom
And they tried to crush his pride
They intended to eradicate his self-esteem
But whilst he had his Nation's flag
Only while he had his homeland's banner
His hope would never die
Would his optimism die
Contributed by David J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@benhammer87
Love it! Cheers n Oi!
@thesollylama130
good old fashion hardcore right here. Great song.
@OleksandrKarin
Oh yeah!!! Meatttt!!! 🤘
@BezladOi
Звісно! Топова банда!
@diegocaetano3999
Sonzera do caralho!!!! Brasil!!!
@tillmanndrewitz
oi from OWL u guys are awsome great!
@felixdraven3893
Isso que é música de verdade vida longa oi oi
@Grom1979
Достойно!
@BezladOi
Весьма!
@Peewee7031
Oi! Oi! Brazil!!