=>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
Land of Ice
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A land of the North that is full of pride
Hearts full of fire, forests full of snow
We're always made welcome by the friends we know
As we board the Swedish ferry and journey through the night
Gothenburg is waiting, hearts of fire, land of ice
Hearts of fire, land of ice
-
Comrades are waiting on the dock of the bay
We toast old friendships as we shake their hands
We swear to keep on fighting to release our lands
The next day on to Stockholm to meet comrades of the fight
Their pride is Sweden's struggle, hearts of fire, land of ice
Hearts of fire, land of ice
-
'Bevara Sverige Svensk' is the slogan there
Nordic pride is the thing they share
To save their Northern country from the Marxist plague
To stop their country dying they fight every day
They're fighting in Uppsala, in Sodertalje they fight
In Boras and in Malmo, hearts of fire, land of ice
Hearts of fire, land of ice
The lyrics of Skrewdriver's song "Land of Ice" reflect the band's fascistic beliefs and fetishization of a racially-pure North. The song describes a North full of pride and unity, where friends gather together to fight the Marxist "plague" that threatens their land. The "land that is made of ice" is symbolic of the supposed purity and hardness of the North, while the "hearts full of fire" represent the intense passion and commitment of the song's protagonist and his comrades.
The references to specific locations, such as Gothenburg, Stockholm, Uppsala, Sodertalje, Boras, and Malmo, serve to further emphasize the geographic and cultural particularity of the North. The refrain of "hearts of fire, land of ice" is a powerful and catchy slogan that encapsulates the band's warrior ethos and reinforces their vision of the North as a fortress of racial purity under siege.
Overall, the lyrics of "Land of Ice" are a disturbing and troubling example of extreme right-wing nationalism and white identity politics. The song promotes a dangerous and exclusionary view of the world, and its popularity among neo-Nazis and other white supremacists is a cause for concern.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking bout a land that is made of ice
Describing a place full of snow and cold climate
A land of the North that is full of pride
Proud and patriotic people live in that region
Hearts full of fire, forests full of snow
People of this land are passionate and strong, but their surroundings are harsh
We're always made welcome by the friends we know
The singer feels welcomed by their comrades who share their ideology
As we board the Swedish ferry and journey through the night
The singer takes a ferry ride at night to reach his destination
Gothenburg is waiting, hearts of fire, land of ice
The city of Gothenburg welcomes the singer and their comrades, despite the challenging surroundings
We cross the mighty ocean and arrive the next day
The singer travels across the ocean and reaches their destination the next day
Comrades are waiting on the dock of the bay
Like-minded people are waiting for the singer at the port
We toast old friendships as we shake their hands
The singer exchanges greetings with their friends and reminiscences on the past
We swear to keep on fighting to release our lands
The comrades pledge to continue fighting for their cause
The next day on to Stockholm to meet comrades of the fight
The singer travels to Stockholm to meet more like-minded people
Their pride is Sweden's struggle, hearts of fire, land of ice
The people in Stockholm are proud of their country and its struggles
'Bevara Sverige Svensk' is the slogan there
The slogan 'preserve Sweden Swedish' is popular among people in Stockholm
Nordic pride is the thing they share
The people in Stockholm are proud of their Nordic heritage
To save their Northern country from the Marxist plague
People in this land are fighting against Marxism to protect their country
To stop their country dying they fight every day
The people in this land are fighting to protect their country from dying
They're fighting in Uppsala, in Sodertalje they fight
The struggle is happening in various cities of this land
In Boras and in Malmo, hearts of fire, land of ice
The people in Boras and Malmo are passionate despite the harshness of their land
Hearts of fire, land of ice
The people in this land possess both strong passion and resilience to endure the tough environment
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Laser-fz6fe
Så jävla mäktigt hälsningar från MIG
@pernykvist3442
Och starka hälsningar från Göteborg!
@robins4209
Bevara Sverige Svenskt
@affe8529
Ja, sverige ska vara vitt
@solhjul
Thi is really a good partysong.