=>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
We Don
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got somethin' new
Yeah we're all strangers
And we're playin' for you
Chorus:
And just 'cause we look different
Just 'cause we look different
We don't, we don't pose
Well we ain't bothered
By the critics' wit
They're so funny
Writing shit
(Repeat Chorus)
Well you can tell the old set
Too cool to clap
Yeah we're gonna cut through
That posing crap
(Repeat Chorus)
In Skrewdriver's song "We Don't Pose," the band addresses the issue of people judging them based on their appearance and clothing choices. The song's lyrics suggest that, despite their differences, they are still able to deliver quality music for their audience. The idea that the band members are strangers is a nod to the fact that the music they play is not for everyone, but for those who appreciate it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fact that appearances can be deceiving, and that people shouldn't judge others based solely on how they look. The lyrics suggest that even though the members of the band may look different from one another, they are still united in their music and sense of purpose. The message of the song is clear: despite appearances, the band is true to who they are and won't conform to societal norms simply for the sake of appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
We got new faces
We have new members in our group
We got somethin' new
We have a new sound or style
Yeah we're all strangers
We are all unfamiliar to the audience
And we're playin' for you
We are performing for the audience's enjoyment
And just 'cause we look different
Our appearance has changed
And we wear different clothes
Our fashion sense has changed
Just 'cause we look different
Our appearance and fashion choices do not define us
We don't, we don't pose
We are staying true to ourselves and not trying to be something we're not
Well we ain't bothered
We are not concerned
By the critics' wit
The criticism from others does not affect us
They're so funny
The critics are comical and not to be taken seriously
Writing shit
Their critiques are negative and unfounded
Well you can tell the old set
The previous members of our group
Too cool to clap
They are too cool or detached to show appreciation
Yeah we're gonna cut through
We are going to break through that mentality
That posing crap
The act of trying to be fake or something you're not
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@owenlake2476
B l a c k c r i m e s Matter 🌚🌚🌚🌚
@jamesguy1030
Whitelaw are Fast becoming the New SKREWDRIVER 👊🏻
@francescodessi5801
Whitelaw 🖤🤍❤️💪
@SavageAudits
We need all of the live versions of fetch the n**se here on YT again. One version (where the singer comes out swinging a n*se in time to the beat) was just excellent. That video is probably lost forever because of YT’s censorial BS.
@occultomortem7679
Fucking ripps! Hail!!!!
@PaulSmith-cp3mk
Keep on stomping oi oi 😜
@Joeblogs111
Class
@mariovazquez853
X: mom, can we have skrewdriver?
Mom: we have skrewdriver at home
Skrewdriver at home: ….
@paulbustin1297
class
@edsonpadova
🍺🍺 SShow \o