=>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 Don
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But baby you do too
Well I don't need your love
'Cause baby I need you.
Chorus:
Well love don't shine
I just want your body
I don't need your love
Well when I get bored
Got nothing to do
I 'm gonna dial your number
I'm gonna ask for you.
(Repeat Chorus)
Love, don't need your love
Love, don't need your love
Love, don't need your love
Love, don't need your love.
(Repeat Chorus) x2
The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song "I Don't Need Your Love" convey a sense of detachment in a romantic relationship. The singer states that both he and his partner know what they want, but despite needing each other physically, he does not require her love. The chorus emphasizes this point, with the singer proclaiming that love does not shine through the clouds above and that he only wants her body, not her love. The repeated line "Love, don't need your love" further underscores the singer's perspective that love is unnecessary in this relationship.
The song could be interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of modern romantic relationships, where physical attraction often takes precedence over emotional connections. It could also represent a desire for independence within a relationship, where one partner does not want to rely too heavily on the other for emotional fulfillment. Additionally, the lyrics may be seen as a rejection of traditional cultural expectations around love and commitment.
Overall, "I Don't Need Your Love" is a powerful statement on the complexities of modern romance and the importance of personal agency in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know what I want
I'm confident in my desires
But baby you do too
But I acknowledge that you also have wants and needs
Well I don't need your love
However, I don't require your affection
'Cause baby I need you.
But, I do still require your physical presence in my life
Well love don't shine
Love isn't as important as other things
Through the clouds above
It's not a magical, all-encompassing force
I just want your body
I only desire physical intimacy with you
I don't need your love
Emotional love isn't necessary for this relationship
Well when I get bored
When nothing else entertains me
Got nothing to do
When I have no activities to fill my time
I 'm gonna dial your number
I'm going to call you
I'm gonna ask for you.
So we can engage in physical intimacy
Love, don't need your love
Love isn't a requirement for this relationship
Love, don't need your love
Emotional love is not important
Love, don't need your love
Physical attraction is enough
Love, don't need your love.
Our relationship can function without love
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