=>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
The Evil Crept In
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took advantage of the feelings we lacked
And now it's coming up to midnight
We're gonna have to stand up and fight
(chorus)
What they've done here is a mighty sin
When the people were sleeping, the evil crept in
When they did one thing, but no-one cared
Then they did another, but no-one was aware
No-one seemed bothered as they planned our fate
They hoped we wouldn't wake up before it's too late
(chorus)
instrumental break
(chorus)
They tried to take it all but now we're awake
We're fighting back for our nation's sake
They'll try and use the traitors to cover their tracks
But the people are aroused, there's no turning back
(chorus) x2
The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song "The Evil Crept In" speak of a betrayal and a lack of awareness on the part of the people in regards to what has been happening behind their backs. The opening lines make it clear that those in power have taken advantage of the feelings that the people lacked, perhaps highlighting how easy it is to manipulate individuals who may not be aware of certain facts or circumstances. The song highlights a sense of urgency as it mentions that it's coming up to midnight and that the people will have to stand up and fight.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant as it speaks of a mighty sin that has been committed by those in power. The song highlights how the people were sleeping and how the evil crept in without their knowledge. It speaks of how the actions of those in power were ignored, and how they hoped no one would wake up before it was too late. Essentially, the lyrics of the song are about betrayal, manipulation, and how power can be wielded without the knowledge or consent of the people.
Line by Line Meaning
They've done it all behind our backs
They have executed all their plans without our knowledge or involvement.
Took advantage of the feelings we lacked
They took advantage of our lack of certain emotions to achieve their goals.
And now it's coming up to midnight
The situation is becoming critical and urgent.
We're gonna have to stand up and fight
We need to resist and fight back against their plans.
What they've done here is a mighty sin
Their actions are morally reprehensible and sinful.
When the people were sleeping, the evil crept in
Their evil intentions and actions went unnoticed when people were not paying attention.
When they did one thing, but no-one cared
They took one step at a time without anyone showing any concern.
Then they did another, but no-one was aware
They continued with their plans one after the other without anyone noticing.
No-one seemed bothered as they planned our fate
None of us cared or paid heed while they schemed and plotted our future.
They hoped we wouldn't wake up before it's too late
They hoped that we would not become aware until it was too late to resist or fight back.
They tried to take it all but now we're awake
They attempted to take away everything, but now we know and are alert.
We're fighting back for our nation's sake
We are resisting them and fighting back for the greater good of our nation.
They'll try and use the traitors to cover their tracks
They will attempt to take advantage of the traitors to hide their actions and intentions.
But the people are aroused, there's no turning back
The people are awakened and alerted, and there is no going back in our fight against their evil plans.
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Benito
Wayciss
ELLIOTT.
THEY ARE BEING RACIST!!!! THEY WERE NEO-NAZIS GANG WTH
@paulfuentes8953
Imagine that's your actual grandma. "Oh yea my grandma's in a movie" then showing people this clip lmao
@wander300
Lmao
@donnaenriquez1200
Oh so scary is so like to many Bloody Blood
@generous3907
Lmao😂😂
@aseem2985
I'd never visit her again. 😂
@phatlewt2932
that'd be awesome tbh
@emilyclorissa
I just watched the behind the scenes for this clip and I totally thought her crawling up the wall was done by CGI but nope, they had her strapped up and actually climb up the ceiling, I have so much respect for this lady
@amyicy9333
she spider gran spider gran 😂🤣😂🤣