=>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
White Warriors
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's as easy as black and white, and you'll fight 'till your last breath
They'll try and tell you that nothing's yours, but you're White men and they are wrong
You are the warriors fighting for the people and you fight 'cos you are strong
(chorus)
And they'll never, never beat the warriors
White warriors, White warriors
White warriors, White warriors
If they would bother to take a look around they'd see the writing was on the wall
A lot of young people are waking up and answering the White man's call
If they try to put us down and they don't destroy us we'll get strong
Their constant lies and harassment only helps to make us carry on
When the battle is over and the victory is won
And the White man's lands are owned by true White people,
the traitors will all be gone
The Skrewdriver's song, "White Warriors," talks about the struggles and the fight of the white race for their own identity and their own land. The lyrics talk about how the fighting in the city is a matter of life and death, which emphasizes the importance of the fight. The song goes on to say that it's an easy concept of black and white, and the warriors will fight until their last breath. The lyrics also state that the white people are told that nothing belongs to them, but they are wrong, and they fight for their rights because they are strong. This line emphasizes the determination and perseverance of the white race.
The chorus of the song talks about how the warriors will never be defeated, no matter how hard the fight may be. The White Warriors are considered strong and fearless because they fight for the people. The lyrics also mention that the young people are waking up and answering the call of the White man, which means that they are becoming aware of their identity and their rights.
The song conveys a message of pride and strength for the white race, and it encourages them to keep going in their fight for their identity and land. The song acknowledges the struggles that the white race is going through but assures them that they will eventually win. The song ends by saying that once the battle is over, and the white man's lands are owned by true white people, the traitors will all be gone, indicating that even if they have internal struggles, the white people will eventually overcome them and emerge victorious.
Line by Line Meaning
Fighting in the city it's a matter of life and death
Fighting in the city is a serious matter that can cost lives
It's as easy as black and white, and you'll fight 'till your last breath
The battle is straightforward and you will fight until your last breath
They'll try and tell you that nothing's yours, but you're White men and they are wrong
They will try to convince you that you have nothing, but they are wrong because you are white
You are the warriors fighting for the people and you fight 'cos you are strong
You are fighting for your people as warriors and because you are strong
And they'll never, never beat the warriors
They can never beat the warriors
White warriors, White warriors
Referring to white warriors
If they would bother to take a look around they'd see the writing was on the wall
If they would look around, they would know the situation is going badly
A lot of young people are waking up and answering the White man's call
Young people are waking up and answering to the white man's call to fight
If they try to put us down and they don't destroy us we'll get strong
If they attempt to defeat us and fail, we will become stronger
Their constant lies and harassment only helps to make us carry on
Their lies and harassment just make us stronger and more determined
When the battle is over and the victory is won
When the battle is done and you have won
And the White man's lands are owned by true White people, the traitors will all be gone
If white people own all the land, the traitors will no longer exist
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sam8837
1 White Rider🏳🏇 0:00
2 Where has justice gone ⚖❔3:15
3 Strikeforce 💥🔫6:04
4 Behind the bars 🏛🤷🏻♂️8:54
5 Pride of a Nation😍 🇬🇧12:19
6 New Nation 🆕️🏴15:30
7 The snow fell ⛄🤸♂️20:09
8 I can see the fire 👀🔥25:14
9 Thunder in the cities 🌩🏙28:25
10 We fight for freedom 🤼♂️🇺🇸31:07
11 White Warriors⚪🤺 35:15
12 Built up knocked down📈📉38:22
@MichaelVance-el5mz
FREE OUR NATION !!!! """( AND IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY YOULL BE ON THEIR LIST)""!!! HE WASNT JOKING!!!
@user-bo8nx4ry4x
Pro White 👀 Nationalist in 🇺🇲 SKREWDRIVER FOREVER! 👍 Thank for having the quality, taste in this genre of music, to promote it, hence promoting our people's identity. 🤍 This too much 💟
@kookadams85
Hail the new Dawn was their peak but this l.p has its moments. ⚡
@BlackBoots2488
oi oi
Skins and Proud
@zzellie85
🤚
@Llamaifunny
Great album. RIP ISD!!!
@5150Targeted
"New Nation Free and True! I Pledge My Life To You! New Nation!
@RogerioBarreto-ys3li
Thanks, thanks!! We need it more than ever now, Whites Unite!
@stavros-161
Behind the Bars is the best song from the album White Rider . .
''My opinion''. . . .
@illandselvmordni7557
Let's download before it disappears..❤