=>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
One Land
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A calm blue sky, beset by thunder (Donar)
Once a land, so proud and free
Until the wall of shame came down on Germany (Deutschland)
(chorus)
But now you're one land
One land
Free once again
They may have split the flesh, but they could not split the blood
And they could not split the spirit of the people (Das Volk)
And they tried to grind you down, tried to knock you to the ground
And tried to beat you with the hammer and the sickle (Sichel)
(chorus)
instrumental break
(chorus)
At the end of the brother war, the pain was so much more
As the instigators stage-managed the dying, (Das Sterbend)
And they tried to take your life, back in 1945
But I hope that the spirit once again is rising (Aufstand)
(chorus) x2
The Skrewdriver's song One Land speaks about the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, after being divided into East and West Germany for more than 40 years. The lyrics highlight the fact that Germany was once a mighty nation that was split asunder, and how the wall of shame came down on Germany. The song speaks about the pain and suffering that the people of Germany went through, and how their spirit and blood remained united despite the division.
The chorus of the song states that Germany is now one land, free once again. The song praises the resilience of the German people, who never gave up their hope and spirit despite the turmoil they went through. The lyrics talk about how the spirit of the people was unbreakable, and no amount of hammer and sickle could break the unity of the German people.
The instrumental break in the song reinforces the message of unity, and the fact that Germany is one land again. The final verses of the song express hope that the spirit of the German people is rising once again, after suffering many injustices during the brother war, particularly in 1945 when they were almost taken to the brink of destruction. The song encourages the German people to never give up on hope and pride, and that they can rise again.
Line by Line Meaning
Once a mighty nation, split asunder
Germany was once a powerful country, but it was divided into two as a result of World War II
A calm blue sky, beset by thunder (Donar)
Germany had a peaceful existence, but the chaos caused by the war had disrupted its tranquility
Once a land, so proud and free
Germany was once a country with a strong sense of national pride and freedom
Until the wall of shame came down on Germany (Deutschland)
The construction of the Berlin Wall had a profound impact on Germany, with a sense of shame felt by its citizens as they were separated from their own people
But now you're one land
Germany has reunited and is no longer divided
One land
A reaffirmation that Germany is a single united nation
Free once again
Germany has regained its freedom as a united country
They may have split the flesh, but they could not split the blood
The physical division of Germany did not affect the common ancestry and heritage of its citizens
And they could not split the spirit of the people (Das Volk)
The unity and determination of the German people to reunite was not broken despite being separated
And they tried to grind you down, tried to knock you to the ground
The forces that caused the division of Germany attempted to destroy its people, but they persevered
And tried to beat you with the hammer and the sickle (Sichel)
The symbol of the Soviet Union was used against the German people as they were oppressed by communism
At the end of the brother war, the pain was so much more
The end of World War II caused immense suffering for the German people
As the instigators stage-managed the dying (Das Sterbend)
Those responsible for starting the war manipulated its outcome and caused unnecessary death and destruction
And they tried to take your life, back in 1945
The oppression of the German people by the Allied powers after the war had ended was an attempt to continue to punish them
But I hope that the spirit once again is rising (Aufstand)
There is a growing sense of hope that Germany's spirit of unity and determination is once again on the rise
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ragingnebula
For those who don't know and are just finding this amazing band the singer/bassist, Omar Higgins, passed away at 37 this year. Keep rocking.
@jamiewilson5679
RIP.
@AaaBbb-ts9fq
NO WAY. AND I'M JUST GETTING INTO THIS SHIT!
Rest In Peace!!
@yzettasmith4194
Aw shit! I just discovered this. This awesome guy is gone? Shit!
@idontmind5815
MrZapparin
Are you dense? Is it weightproblems that have killed almost 200,000 americans in 2020?
I'm not saying he died from covid, but your comment just shows your ignorance to the world.
Great job on being a p.o.s💩💩💩
@imoffended2444
@@idontmind5815 So him not assuming that every death is caused by covid means that he's ignorant and a piece of shit? Honestly can't tell if you're trolling or a pos yourself
@danbernard5428
-excuse me, I'd like to buy a record
-OK, which band?
-...you know what, I'll get it online
@deadheathen2000
I run into a similar issue anytime I'm lookin for Turbonegro at the local record store.
@MoonBoyAdino
discogs won't forget what you typed.
@viscountrainbows6452
Being Black and into rock/punk/metal, from Boston with Love, this is extremely heartwarming to find by accident 🥺🤘🏿 at 29 going on 30, I'm still happy to see my people hold it down.