=>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
I
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People always mess me 'round
Always looking out for favours
Trying to bleed me into the ground
Chorus:
'Cause I'm a, yeah I'm the loner baby,
Right I'm the loner baby,
Yeah, I'm moving on.
People always criticising
Telling me what I must do
I don't want nobody's advice
I ain't gonna listen to you.
(Repeat Chorus)
Middle Eight:
Like it much better when I'm on my own
I much prefer it when I'm all alone
I don't like nobody ruining my peace
I don't want nobody bugging me
Never trusted anybody
Never let nobody try
When somebody asks me questions
I don't never tell no lies
(Repeat Chorus) x2
The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song The Only One reflect the feeling of being a loner and the struggles that come along with it. The singer expresses a lack of interest in mixing with others, as people have always let him down and taken advantage of him in the past. He refuses to listen to others' advice and doesn't trust anyone, preferring to be on his own to avoid anyone disrupting his peace.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's status as a loner, highlighting how he is the only one and moving on. The middle eight further clarifies his preference for being alone as he doesn't want anyone to ruin his peace or bother him. He has no interest in letting anyone into his world or asking for their help.
Overall, the lyrics to The Only One convey the singer's defiance and self-reliance, as he believes being a loner is the best way for him to live his life without interference.
Line by Line Meaning
Never reckoned much to mixing
I don't enjoy socializing with others.
People always mess me 'round
Others often treat me poorly.
Always looking out for favours
They only want me for what I can do for them.
Trying to bleed me into the ground
They want to take advantage of me and drain me of all I have.
'Cause I'm a, yeah I'm the loner baby,
I prefer to be alone and not be bothered by others.
I'm the only one now,
I am the only person I can trust.
Right I'm the loner baby,
I have accepted and embraced my solitary lifestyle.
Yeah, I'm moving on.
I am leaving behind those who do not have my best interests at heart.
People always criticising
Others are quick to judge and find fault with me.
Telling me what I must do
They think they know better than me and try to give me orders.
I don't want nobody's advice
I am capable of making my own decisions and do not need unsolicited advice.
I ain't gonna listen to you.
I will not be swayed by your opinions and will follow my own path.
Like it much better when I'm on my own
I feel more comfortable and content when not in the presence of others.
I much prefer it when I'm all alone
Solitude is my preferred state of being.
I don't like nobody ruining my peace
I value my tranquility and do not want it disturbed by others.
I don't want nobody bugging me
I do not want anyone bothering or interfering with me.
Never trusted anybody
I have been let down by others in the past and do not trust easily.
Never let nobody try
I am guarded and do not allow others to get close to me.
When somebody asks me questions
Others are curious about me and want to know more.
I don't never tell no lies
I am truthful and do not deceive others.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@josferatu666
Love these guys always will they are true Punk Rock
@digginggopher
RAC skinheads fuck off
@justanotherperson927
Punk? you sure?
@digginggopher
@@justanotherperson927 I think he means punk as in punk ass, not as in punk rock
@milossavic8009
at that present time that was pure punk rock (music+luricks as point of view to put the finger in system that we all hate) the next phase of this bend is some diffrent story @@justanotherperson927
@beanosgaming6494
@@digginggopher no they're a punk rock band, queercore mofos just want to declare themselves as the ones who represent punk culture while they are just a subculture
@Mad_Cattle_Records
The best album.
@xqxq8231
>Implying we liked them in the first place
@syncdi3221
liked whom?
@omarsubervinoboa5831
@@syncdi3221 skrewdriver