=>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 itโs 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 Salfordโs 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 12โ 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 Remorseโs 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 Donaldsonโs 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 bandโs 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
Won't Get Fooled Again
Skrewdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the morals that they worshipped will be gone
And the men who spurred us on, sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
Chorus:
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Pick up my guitar and play, just like yesterday
When I get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Move myself and my family aside, should we happen to get left out of line
Smiling faces smile at the sky, I know that the hypnotized never lie
The change it had to come, we knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe's old song
Now a pardon on the left, now a pardon on the right
And the hell it grows shorter overnight
(Repeat Chorus)
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
The lyrics to Skrewdriver's song Won't Get Fooled Again are a commentary on revolution, change, and the cyclical nature of power. The first verse paints a picture of violent revolution, with people fighting in the streets with their children at their feet. The morals they once worshipped are gone, and the men who spurred them on now sit in judgment of all that's wrong. The shotgun sings the song, a metaphor for the violent change taking place.
The chorus of the song suggests that while change is happening all around us, we should be wary of being fooled again. The singer tips his hat to the new constitution and takes a bow for the new revolution, but remains cautious. When he picks up his guitar to play, he does so just like yesterday, suggesting that despite the changes, some things remain the same. He finishes the chorus by saying that he'll pray that we don't get fooled again.
The second verse is more personal. The singer tells us that he'll move himself and his family aside if they happen to get left out of line. The people around him are hypnotized and never lie, implying that they are blindly following the change without questioning it. The change, he says, had to come and they knew it all along. They were liberated from the foe's old song, but now there's a pardon on the left and a pardon on the right, and the hell it grows shorter overnight. This suggests that while the revolution was successful, power is once again consolidating in the hands of a few.
Overall, the song is a warning against blindly following revolution without questioning who will ultimately hold the power.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll be fighting in the streets, with our children at our feet
We'll be engaged in a fierce struggle in the streets alongside our children
And the morals that they worshipped will be gone
The principles they once held in high regard will disappear
And the men who spurred us on, sit in judgement of all wrong
The people who urged us on to rise up will now be the ones who judge what is right or wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
Their authority is absolute, indicated by the sound of a shotgun
Chorus: I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
I'll show respect for the new laws
Take a bow for the new revolution
Acknowledge the success of the new uprising
Smilin' free at the changes all around
Happy and free in the midst of all the changes taking place
Pick up my guitar and play, just like yesterday
Resume playing guitar like in the past
When I get on my knees and pray
Pray in submission
We don't get fooled again
We will not be deceived once more
Move myself and my family aside, should we happen to get left out of line
Make way for yourself and your family in case you are excluded
Smiling faces smile at the sky, I know that the hypnotized never lie
The brainwashed always pretend to be happy and will not reveal the truth
The change it had to come, we knew it all along
We knew that the change had to happen
We were liberated from the foe's old song
We became free from our previous adversaries
Now a pardon on the left, now a pardon on the right
Both sides are now offering pardons
And the hell it grows shorter overnight
The torment is becoming less intense
(Repeat Chorus)
Repeat the previous chorus
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
The new leader is just like the old one
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@leeandrew1754
Fan from Lancashire back with a bang now oi! ๐๐
@WilfridAgboton
Great footage!excellent cover!
@jeffgolden2308
Best version.
@niconicholas1464
What was the final score?
@sirpaulconwaysirpaulconway6944
classic ian Stewart
@stinkytrouble
WHO classic
@bosshoss64
Incredible great version. Pete Townshend was surely pleased when he heard this. But what's wiv the horrendous Salford shit in the background?! ๐
@Lionheart19822
The greatest of all !
@lig4902
Hail the Warriors, miss you Ian.
@parisite7834
What's with the Manchester United stuff over the song? fuck all to do with it