=>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
Tearing Down The Wall
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lot of people've paid for it with their lives
Those people have risked it, to unite their blood
To tear it down, if only they could
Chorus:
Tearing down the wall
Strength of Europe's people, gave reds their ( ? )
Now Europe starts to hear, its people's cries
The Allies are playing with European blood
It seems like a game of chess, from where I'm stood
(Repeat Chorus)
Middle Eight:
We're tearing, yeah tearing, tearing down the wall
Got to, got to, we've got to see it fall
We're tearing, we're tearing, tearing down the wall
We've got to, we've got to, we've got to see it fall
It's been there for too long, try to tear it down
Lots of Marxist strongholds all around
European people, should reign in peace
Not be controlled by the terror from the East
(Repeat Chorus) x2
The lyrics of Skrewdriver's "Tearing Down the Wall" are reflective of the band's neo-Nazi views and express a desire for European unity and a rejection of communism. The opening lines allude to the end of World War II in 1945 and the many lives lost in the conflict. The song then goes on to speak about the efforts of those who have risked everything to unite their blood and tear down the walls that divide the people. The chorus reinforces this sentiment with the lyrical urge to "tear down the wall" and "see it fall".
The middle eight of the song has an urgent and repetitive feel, with the singer exclaiming that they must "tear down the wall" and "see it fall". The lyrics suggest that the Marxist strongholds that have arisen in Europe are a threat to peace and that the European people should not be controlled by the "terror from the East".
Overall, the song's lyrics are a call to arms for European unity and a warning against communism. The message of the song has been embraced by neo-Nazi and far-right groups and is often used as an anthem at their events.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long wait now, 1945
After many years since the end of World War II in 1945..
Lot of people've paid for it with their lives
Many people have sacrificed their lives for the cause..
Those people have risked it, to unite their blood
Those people bravely risked their lives to unite all Europeans..
To tear it down, if only they could
They wanted to tear down the metaphorical 'wall' that separates Europeans from each other..
Chorus: Tearing down the wall, Got to see it fall
The chorus is about the determination to bring down the 'wall'..
Strength of Europe's people, gave reds their ( ? )
The strength of European people somehow gave communists their power?..
Now Europe starts to hear, its people's cries
Europe is finally beginning to hear the cries of its people..
The Allies are playing with European blood
The countries who fought together in WWII are now playing with the fate of Europe..
It seems like a game of chess, from where I'm stood
From the singer's point of view, it seems like the situation is being controlled like a game of chess..
(Repeat Chorus)
Repeating the chorus again..
Middle Eight: We're tearing, yeah tearing, tearing down the wall Got to, got to, we've got to see it fall We're tearing, we're tearing, tearing down the wall We've got to, we've got to, we've got to see it fall
The middle eight is about the determination to remove the 'wall'..
It's been there for too long, try to tear it down
The 'wall' has been in place for too long and needs to be removed..
Lots of Marxist strongholds all around
There are many communist organizations around that are obstacles to bringing down the 'wall'..
European people, should reign in peace
European people should live in peace..
Not be controlled by the terror from the East
The 'wall' must be removed to prevent control by communism..
(Repeat Chorus) x2
Chorus is repeated twice more..
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PH
This is not a metaphorical wall. It's literally referring to The Berlin Wall that divided Germany at the time.
PH
Hail The New Dawn was the LP. Invasion was the single
@limelite123
Met lan mid 80´s in London. He was a really nice guy. Greetings forn Nuremberg/Germany
@nostalgiaof98
Walking through the streets of Millwall, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester... you can feel the boots that once walked here...
@georgeshippen6422
FIFTY FIVE YEARS OLD STILL LISTEN TO SKREWDRIVER,
RIP IAN STUART,
@chevyvet69
Me Too! Hail The new dawn
@mckirdy2312
20 years old and listening
@johngraham7479
50 here
@user-cu9oe8ds4y
Rest In piss .
@collenrung5009
Yeah!!!!