=>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
Oh No Here Comes A...
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing but air in his head
Appears in your eyes, peddling lies
Selling ideas that are dead
He's out there every single morning
Talking 'bout his new day that is dawning
On no, here comes a commie
Red star on his breast
Oh no, here comes a commie
Won't you give it a rest?
He hates his own land, he has a plan
To bring it all down to the ground
Confuse you with lies, installs his spies
Brings our destruction around
He just wants to see our nations dying
His desire is for a Red flag flying
(chorus)
instrumental break
(chorus)
Support for his plans, comes from alien lands
People who don't belong here
They come to these shores, they always want more
With their lies and their crocodile tears
The Red gets his support from these invaders
Hopes that their sheer numbers will evade us
(chorus)
Oh no, here comes a commie
Says his revolution is right
On no, here comes a commie
Won't you off and die?
The song Oh No Here Comes A... by Skrewdriver is a highly politically charged track that speaks about the dangers of communism and its supporters. The song paints a picture of a communist as someone who worships the beast, devoid of any real ideas. The communist is described as peddling lies and selling dead ideas, trying to confuse people with lies and install spies to bring about the destruction of the country.
The lyrics continue to assert that the communist hates his own land and has a plan to bring it all down to the ground. The communist's desire is for a Red flag to fly. He's depicted as someone who wants nothing more than to see our nations dying by bringing about his revolution - a revolution that he believes to be right.
The song portrays communist supporters as people who don't belong, coming to these shores with their lies and crocodile tears. It asserts that the communist gets his support from these invaders and hopes that their sheer numbers will evade us. The song invites people not to let the communist invaders win and to resist their propaganda.
Line by Line Meaning
He looks to the east, he worships the beast
He is obsessed with communism and idolizes the leaders of communist regimes.
Nothing but air in his head
He is foolish and lacks any real substance or intelligence.
Appears in your eyes, peddling lies
He tries to deceive people by selling them false ideas that have no basis in reality.
Selling ideas that are dead
He promotes ideologies that have already been proven to fail.
He's out there every single morning, talking 'bout his new day that is dawning
He is constantly trying to convince people that a communist revolution is imminent.
On no, here comes a commie, Red star on his breast, Oh no, here comes a commie, Won't you give it a rest?
The singer is frustrated and tired of hearing the same communist rhetoric over and over again.
He hates his own land, he has a plan, To bring it all down to the ground
He has a deep-seated hatred for his own country and wants to destroy it completely.
Confuse you with lies, installs his spies, Brings our destruction around
He deliberately spreads misinformation and plants agents to disrupt society, with the ultimate goal of causing chaos and destruction.
He just wants to see our nations dying, His desire is for a Red flag flying
He is dedicated to the downfall of all non-communist nations, in the hopes of raising the red flag of communism in their place.
Support for his plans, comes from alien lands, People who don't belong here
He receives backing from foreign entities, who are not native to the artist's country.
They come to these shores, they always want more, With their lies and their crocodile tears
These foreign supporters are manipulative and insincere, using dishonesty and emotional appeals to further their agenda.
The Red gets his support from these invaders, Hopes that their sheer numbers will evade us
The communist leader relies on these outside supporters to bolster his cause, and intends to use their overwhelming numbers to defeat his opponents.
On no, here comes a commie, Says his revolution is right, On no, here comes a commie, Won't you off and die?
The singer is angry and indignant in response to the communist's constant preaching and perceived threats to freedom.
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@milliken603
Skrewdriver is a time machine for me. The only thing different now is this old man that's taken over my face in the mirror.... .oi oi oi
@danielrieker4862
bought right brother
@kookadams85
Skrewdriver 77-85 was killer!
@pariahthistledown540
'87 was called "Summer of Hate" in US...I shaved my friend, Jeff's head ...in South Carolina 1990...and he traded his leather and combats for a flight and some OxBlood Docs. I remained Deathrock, lol...but i bought alot of Trad OI records at the shop, cuz i dig OI! Jeff either grew up, is dead, or in prison. Anyone who went full Hammerskin, that i know, is either grown up, dead, or in prison. Some WP kids are out...covered in WP ink, and finding adjustment VERY hard. Silly fekkers ought have listened to me, and others, but so be it. Trad 4evr!
@sd-nq4yz
Yeah.. not all of us..
@kookadams85
@@pariahthistledown540 nationalist is more trad than "sh.arp" could ever hope to be. I ain't a skin , jus' a wood but anyone who sympathizes for the left has No credibility or honour. 🇱🇷
@martinheidegger1125
It wasn't just listening to Skrewdriver, Oi, ska and hardcore all alone that made you a skin but it was your friends (your crew) that made the scene in your particular area that made us all a force to be reckoned.
@pariahthistledown540
LOL! I am an aged Deathrocker...with VERY good taste in Oi! Unt,....La Politica, es Venneno! Believe it!
@martinheidegger1125
@@pariahthistledown540 no digo que la politica era bueno pero la junta tenia fuerza.
@williamgregg8062
I was listening to no doubt before skrewdriver