=>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
Needle Man
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He don't spend his money at the pub or making bets
Goes down town, goes in the bar and makes his contact there
He gets the gear, he takes a shot, and his eyes begin to stare
Chorus:
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
He's getting weaker everyday but he has to keep his job
He'll get no more money on the day he has to stop
One day at work he feels so bad that he falls down on the floor
The boss he assures he don't abuse but he throws him out the door
(Repeat Chorus)
Solo
(Repeat Chorus)
They find him dying on the floor, yeah he's lying on his back
He's covered in newspapers and a dirty ripped-up sack
The dawn it breaks, the rain it falls, but the young man doesn't live
He gave his life to pills and syringes, and had nothing left to give
(Repeat Chorus)
The lyrics of Skrewdriver's song "Needle Man" describe the life of a drug addict who has turned to injecting drugs. The first verse describes the character as the kind of man who remains in a job for money, rather than wasting it in pubs or betting. He goes to bars in search of drugs, gets his fix and becomes addicted to the euphoria. The chorus repeats that he is a "junkie, needle-man," who craves the kicks and does not care if it is harmful.
The second verse asserts that the character is becoming weaker every day, but has to maintain his job. This section dramatizes the inevitability of his descent into addiction, despite the obvious negative impact that it is having on his life. One day, he falls unconscious at work, and the boss kicks him out. The song implies that this is some sort of punishment, making a wider statement about society's judgment of drug addiction.
In the final verse, the man is found on the floor, where he has died after injecting drugs. He has nothing left to give, having given his life to pills and syringes. The artist is making a poignant appeal against the dangers of drug addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
He's the kind of man who sticks his job for the money that he gets
He is a man who works just for the sake of money and nothing else.
He don't spend his money at the pub or making bets
He doesn't waste his earnings on pubs or gambling.
Goes down town, goes in the bar and makes his contact there
He visits bars in the city to get in touch with his source.
He gets the gear, he takes a shot, and his eyes begin to stare
He injects himself with drugs and the side effects start to show.
He's getting weaker everyday but he has to keep his job
His addiction is deteriorating his health but he has to continue working.
He'll get no more money on the day he has to stop
He knows he will lose his income if he stops working due to his addiction.
One day at work he feels so bad that he falls down on the floor
One day, he collapses on the job due to his worsening condition.
The boss he assures he don't abuse but he throws him out the door
Though the employer says he is not being discriminated against, he is fired from his job due to his addiction.
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
He is addicted to drugs and doesn't care about anything else.
They find him dying on the floor, yeah he's lying on his back
He is eventually found lying on the floor, close to death.
He's covered in newspapers and a dirty ripped-up sack
He is poorly dressed and surrounded by scraps of newspapers and a torn-up bag.
The dawn it breaks, the rain it falls, but the young man doesn't live
The morning comes and it starts raining, but the man dies due to his addiction.
He gave his life to pills and syringes, and had nothing left to give
He wasted his life on drugs and had nothing else to offer in the end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sandraschonig9228
boa was für ein hammerlied von skrewdriver 😮 ewig nicht gehört
@der-muede-joe8725
Skrewdriver bzw. Ian Stuart zählt zur Musikgeschichte. Komme immer wieder auf die Band zurück. Das bleibt. Grüße aus Deutschland
@sandraschonig9228
war ja auch ne geile Band
damals ständig gehört
tolles lied wie so viele damals
@BramsCommando
He's the kind of man who sticks his job for the money that he gets
He don't spend his money at the pub or making bets
Goes down town, goes in the bar and makes his contact there
He gets the gear, he takes a shot, and his eyes begin to stare
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
He's getting weaker everyday but he has to keep his job
He'll get no more money on the day he has to stop
One day at work he feels so bad that he falls down on the floor
The boss he assures he don't abuse but he throws him out the door
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Solo
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
They find him dying on the floor, yeah he's lying on his back
He's covered in newspapers and a dirty ripped-up sack
The dawn it breaks, the rain it falls, but the young man doesn't live
He gave his life to pills and syringes, and had nothing left to give
'cause he's a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
Yeah a junkie, needle-man
Needs the kicks, don't give a damn
@geertjanssen3171
Just another big hit by the skrews
@jladams85
There was a pretty good u.k oi! band in the 80s called the Skrews. 👌🏻
@gtct7023
Ger is allways good 88
@beetrootjuice8849
Loving these uploads.