=>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't Like You
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get out on the job in the morning
Time is draggin' by real slow
( ? )
Boss is keepin' me on the go
Sick of that routine work now
Sorting's drivin' me insane
When I'm done doin' one thing
Boss says do it again
And I said...
Chorus:
I don't like you
I don't like you
I don't like you anymore
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!
It's time to get off work now
Kick the boss right in the head
All the people givin' me orders
Tryin' to make me see red
I'm prayin' to break out free now
Playin' in a rock'n'roll band
Playin' that rock'n'roll music
Probably gonna get us banned
(Repeat Chorus) x2
The song "I Don't Like You" by Skrewdriver is about a person who is tired of their routine job and their boss who keeps them on the go. The lyrics explain how the person hates their work and wishes to break free and play in a rock 'n' roll band. The chorus "I don't like you, I don't like you, I don't like you anymore" is addressing the boss, expressing how much the person dislikes them and their job.
The lyrics portray a sense of frustration and rebellion against the monotony of everyday life. The person in the song is looking for something more fulfilling and exciting, represented by playing in a rock 'n' roll band. The line "kick the boss right in the head" in the middle eight of the song, shows the level of hatred the person has towards their boss.
Overall, the song "I Don't Like You" is a representation of the discontentment some people feel towards their work and everyday life. The song is a call for rebellion and change.
Line by Line Meaning
1-2-3-4 I don't like you!
I really dislike everything about you.
Get out on the job in the morning
I leave my home to go to work in the morning.
Time is draggin' by real slow
Time seems to pass very slowly at work.
( ? )
This line is unclear and cannot be interpreted.
Boss is keepin' me on the go
My boss keeps me busy and active at work.
Sick of that routine work now
I am tired and bored of doing the same work tasks every day.
Sorting's drivin' me insane
The process of sorting things is causing me to become crazy.
When I'm done doin' one thing
After I finish a task at work,
Boss says do it again
my boss tells me to repeat the same task again.
And I said...
I responded to my boss's request.
Chorus: I don't like you I don't like you I don't like you anymore
I am expressing once again that I dislike you very much.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!
This line is counting to eight in a rhythmic way as an intro.
It's time to get off work now
I am finished with work for the day.
Kick the boss right in the head
This line is an expression of aggression towards the boss.
All the people givin' me orders
Everyone who tells me what to do at work,
Tryin' to make me see red
is making me very angry and frustrated.
I'm prayin' to break out free now
I hope to escape this oppressive work environment soon.
Playin' in a rock'n'roll band
I am part of a rock and roll music group.
Playin' that rock'n'roll music
We perform rock and roll music.
Probably gonna get us banned
This music style could lead to our band being prohibited or censored.
(Repeat Chorus) x2
I repeat the chorus twice, emphasizing once again that I don't like the person I am addressing.
Lyrics © O/B/O 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