=>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
Excalibur
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Came merlin to put claim upon the king
Took him far away from tintagel
And gave to him the knowledge of many things
(chorus)
Excalibur, it came to arthur - excalibur!
The sword that came from the lady of the lake - excalibur!
The king will rise again for our people's sake
As uther died with arthur's reign beginning
The nation's dreams became reality
The hopes the people had in the round table, at camelot
The power of the sword slayed enemies
(chorus)
Instrumental break
(chorus)
Protector of the future, merlin took the infant king
And no one saw him 'til he claimed his crown
And since his death his spirit lays in avalon, in avalon
Waiting 'til his rebirth comes around
(chorus) x2
The song "Excalibur" talks about one of the most famous stories in British history - the tale of King Arthur and the sword Excalibur. It begins by narrating how Merlin, the wise wizard, appeared in the time of legends and took the future king, Arthur, away from Tintagel to educate him in his tutelage. The chorus sings of how Excalibur - the mythical sword sent by the Lady of the Lake - came to Arthur, and how he would one day rise again to reclaim his throne and save his people. The second stanza talks about Uther's death and how Arthur's rise to power at Camelot fulfilled the hopes and dreams of the nation. The song's instrumental break follows before the chorus repeats itself. The final verse illustrates how Merlin took the young king away to protect him before he returned to claim his rightful place, leading the people of Avalon until his death, where his spirit awaited his rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
It derived from the time of legends
Excalibur's origins can be traced back to legendary times.
Came merlin to put claim upon the king
Merlin claimed the king, taking him away from Tintagel and teaching him many things.
Took him far away from tintagel
Merlin took the king far away from his birthplace in Tintagel.
And gave to him the knowledge of many things
Merlin imparted the king with knowledge and wisdom.
Excalibur, it came to arthur - excalibur!
Excalibur came to Arthur, the one true king of England.
The sword that came from the lady of the lake - excalibur!
Excalibur was given to Arthur by the mysterious Lady of the Lake.
And one day as the nation cries in agony - excalibur!
One day, when the nation is in despair, Excalibur will rise again.
The king will rise again for our people's sake
Arthur will rise again to save England and its people.
As uther died with arthur's reign beginning
Arthur's father, Uther, died as Arthur took the throne.
The nation's dreams became reality
With Arthur as king, the people's dreams became a reality.
The hopes the people had in the round table, at camelot
The people's hopes were embodied in the Round Table and Camelot.
The power of the sword slayed enemies
The power of Excalibur allowed Arthur to defeat his enemies.
Protector of the future, merlin took the infant king
Merlin protected the future by taking the infant Arthur under his wing.
And no one saw him 'til he claimed his crown
Arthur was hidden away until he became king.
And since his death his spirit lays in avalon, in avalon
After his death, Arthur's spirit rests in Avalon.
Waiting 'til his rebirth comes around
Arthur waits in Avalon for his rebirth, when England needs him most.
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Benito
on The Evil Crept In
Wayciss
ELLIOTT.
on Their Kingdom Will Fall
nazis are not very nice icl :/
april
on Their Kingdom Will Fall
Mark are you racist. I won't tell.
april
on Their Kingdom Will Fall
Mark are you okay
ELLIOTT.
on Their Kingdom Will Fall
GANG THEY ARE RACIST PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!! THEY ARE NAZIS SPEAKING ABOUT IMMIGRANTS!!!!!
ELLIOTT.
on The Evil Crept In
THEY ARE BEING RACIST!!!! THEY WERE NEO-NAZIS GANG WTH
PH
on Tearing Down The Wall
This is not a metaphorical wall. It's literally referring to The Berlin Wall that divided Germany at the time.
PH
on Tearing Down The Wall
Hail The New Dawn was the LP. Invasion was the single