=>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
Soar Aloft
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the nation's sea and sand
This our people's pride and joy now
Yeah, this our motherland
(chorus)
Soar aloft you Golden Eagle
High above the sea and sand
Hail to you my motherland
Old ancient oak trees
And dark beech groves
Greening birch trees
Frame the meadow-land, soar aloft now...
(chorus)
instrumental break
(chorus)
Farmers and towns-people, of true blood stock
Always hail now to their homeland, in loyalty, soar aloft now
Here motherland, always be our watchword
Our loyalty to the homeland, in all times to come, soar aloft now...
(chorus) x4
The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song "Soar Aloft" celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the British Isles, encouraging listeners to take pride in their homeland. The first stanza describes the rugged heathlands, sea and sand that make up the country, framing them as "our people's pride and joy" and "our motherland." The chorus repeats the phrase "soar aloft" as a call to action, encouraging the listener to take to the skies like a golden eagle and marvel at the beauty of the land. The second stanza goes into even more detail, describing old oak trees, dark beech groves, green birch trees, and meadow-land. The song ends with a call for loyalty to the homeland, with "motherland" as the watchword to always keep in mind.
Line by Line Meaning
The country's rugged heathland
Look at the rough, wild landscape of our country
See the nation's sea and sand
Observe the beaches and sea that define our country
This our people's pride and joy now
Our country is the cherished possession of our people
Yeah, this our motherland
Yes, this is our homeland of origin
Soar aloft you Golden Eagle
Fly high, Golden Eagle
High above the sea and sand
Above the ocean and shoreline
High above the dark oak forests now
Above the gloomy oak woods
Hail to you my motherland
We praise you, our homeland
Old ancient oak trees
Time-worn oak trees
And dark beech groves
And shady trees
Greening birch trees
Fresh leafy birch trees
Frame the meadow-land, soar aloft now...
Make the countryside lovely; fly higher now...
Farmers and towns-people, of true blood stock
Citizens and farmers, of pure ancestry
Always hail now to their homeland, in loyalty, soar aloft now
Show devotion to your homeland; fly higher now
Here motherland, always be our watchword
Our country must always be our slogan
Our loyalty to the homeland,
Our devotion to our country,
in all times to come, soar aloft now...
Forever more, fly higher now...
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mattw8834
Zog let one slip through the cracks. 14
@ralphnaber
88
@JohnDoe-cu8tv
Lol!
@mummyd1990
Say what you want about Ian Rip,he was one of the best musicians and singers of all time in my humble opinion,what a band skrewdriver were end of.Rip to Ian,Grinny, boo.
@georgeshippen9530
I agree,
@user-gd5dj2nj6c
I am Hispanic but damn he made some catchy songs.
@jamieclarkclark756
Fuckin awesome 💯🏴
@stalzemsty1669
Listening to this album now. I love Skrewdriver.
@Mark008able
Very well done, Sir.A masterpiece.
@nicolasbeaudry6158
Absolute bangers⚜️💥