Skrewdriver

Ian Stuart Donaldson, formerly of the cover band Tumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver as a punk rock band in Poulton-le-Fylde in 1976.{{cite journal|title=The soundtrack of neo-fascism: youth and music in the National Front | doi=10.1080/0031322X.2013.842289 |volume=47 | issue=4–5 |journal=Patterns of Prejudice |pages=458–482|year = 2013|last1 = Shaffer|first1 = Ryan| s2cid=144461518 }} At first, Skrewdriver sported a punk appearance, but they later changed their image to a skinhead look. In 1978, Donaldson moved to Manchester, where he recruited guitarist Glenn Jones and drummer Martin Smith. With Kevin MacKay on bass, this lineup toured extensively and built a strong following, but certain venues were reluctant to book the band because of their reputation as a violent skinhead band. Performing largely for a skinhead audience, the first versions of the band released one album and two singles on Chiswick Records. Skrewdriver briefly adopted a rocker/biker-influenced look around the time they released the EP Built Up Knocked Down (1979).{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriverdiscography.htm |title=Skrewdriver Discography |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriver.htm |title=Skrewdriver Information and Photos |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}

Donaldson resurrected the band name Skrewdriver in 1982 with a new band line-up. Although the original band had a reputation for attracting violence at their concerts—Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof was reportedly knocked unconscious by a friend of Donaldson who believed that Skrewdriver's sound had been sabotaged{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/boomtown_rats_vs_skrewdriver.htm |title=Boomtown Rats vs Skrewdriver |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}—the new band espoused an openly nationalist ideology.{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriverinterview.htm |title=Skrewdriver Interview |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}

The re-formed Skrewdriver eventually became openly supportive of white nationalist groups, after a lengthy period of publicly denying such support.{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdrivecuttings.htm |title=Skrewdriver Press Cuttings |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}} The band released the single "White Power" in 1983 and their second album, Hail the New Dawn, in 1984. Although both Skrewdriver and the band Sham 69 had skinhead followings and racist fans early in their careers, Sham 69 denounced racism and performed at Rock Against Racism concerts.{{cite web |url=http://www.ainaskin.com/interviews/ |title=Skrewdriver Interview |work=AinaSkin.com |access-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206042959/http://www.ainaskin.com/interviews/ |archive-date=6 February 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/rockagainstracism.htm |title=Punk and the Swastika |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}} Donaldson eventually aligned himself with neo-Nazism, saying: "I would describe myself as a British National Socialist, not a German one, and so don't think I'm at odds with British patriots."{{cite web |url=http://www.skrewdriver.org/diamond.html |title=Diamond in the Dust – The Ian Stuart Biography |work=Skrewdriver.org |access-date=9 November 2012 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127051837/http://www.skrewdriver.org/diamond.html |url-status=dead }} The band became associated with the National Front and British National Party, raising funds for them (and affiliated organisations) through the White Noise record label. They released records on Rock-O-Rama, a label that became known for National Socialist sympathies. Skrewdriver was instrumental in setting up Blood & Honour, a neo-Nazi music promotion network.

Their song Smash the IRA became popular amongst Loyalists in Northern Ireland. It was one of a number of Skrewdriver songs covered by a Belfast band called Offensive Weapon, who also covered songs by Black artists such as Chuck Berry.{{cite book |last=Bailie |first=Stuart |date=2018 |title=Trouble Songs |location=Belfast |publisher=Bloomfield |pages=179–180 |isbn=978-1-5272-2047-8}}

Some members of the original Skrewdriver line-up objected strongly to the new direction in which Donaldson took the band. Roger Armstrong of Chiswick Records said:

{{blockquote|It is a shame that the name was dragged through the gutter like that. The other three guys in the band were really pissed off too. Grinny the drummer came from solid Northern socialist stock. When they made records for us Ian Stuart showed no signs of fascism. The skinhead image was a—maybe in hindsight misconceived—fashion thing. It was cooked up by a bunch of us, including the band's then-management and the photographer Peter Kodik.{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriver2.htm |title=Skrewdriver – Roger Armstrong Interview |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}}}

However, John "Grinny" Grinton later stated in an interview that he had no problem with the new Skrewdriver, and that he became a member of the National Front along with Donaldson.{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdrivergrinnyint.htm |title=An Interview with Grinny from Skrewdriver |work=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}}

Donaldson died in a car crash on 24 September 1993. A friend and fellow Neo-Nazi, Stephen Lee Flint, died from injuries sustained in the crash the following day.{{cite web |date=24 September 2013 |title=Ian Stuart Donaldson and a legacy of hate |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/ian-stuart-donaldson-a-legacy-of-hate |access-date=24 August 2014 |publisher=Channel4.com}} Donaldson's death catalyzed the demise of Skrewdriver, and had a strong impact on the white power rock scene.{{cite web |title=Skrewdriver |url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Skrewdriver/6618/ |work=Sputnikmusic |access-date=19 May 2010}} John "Grinny" Grinton died from cancer in June 2005.{{cite web |url=http://revoltns.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/skrewdriver-timeline.html |title=Skrewdriver Timeline |work=NS Revolt |date=10 August 2009 |access-date=23 July 2012}}{{Unreliable fringe source|date=March 2022}}

Merv Shields died on 1 January 2022 due to COVID-19 complications.{{cite web |url=https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/infamous-neo-nazi-skinhead-band-member-dies-of-covid-complications-in-co-antrim-hospital-41244638.html |title=Infamous neo-Nazi skinhead band member dies of 'Covid complications' in Co Antrim hospital |work=Sunday World |access-date=21 January 2022}}

• Ian Stuart Donaldson – guitar, vocals
• Kevin "Kev" McKay – bass (1976–1978, 1978)
• John Grinton – drums (1976–1978, 1979)
• Phil Walmsley – bass, guitar (1976–1977, 1978)
• Ron Hartley – guitar (1977–1978)
• Mark Radcliffe – drums (1978–1979)
• Gary "Gaz" Chammings – guitar (1978)
• Pete Corley – guitar (1978)
• Chris Cummings – guitar (1978–1979)
• Glen Jones – guitar (1979)
• Martin Smith – drums (1979)

• Ian Stuart Donaldson – guitar, vocals
• Mark French – bass (1982–1984)
• Mark Meeson – guitar (1982–1983)
• Geoff Williams – drums (1982–1983)
• Mark Sutherland – drums (1984–1987)
• Scotty – drums (1984–1987)
• Adam Douglas – guitar (1984–1986)
• Murray Holmes – bass (1984)
• Paul Swain – guitar (1984–1987)
• Steve "Stiv / Iena / A." Roda – bass (1985–1986)
• Mervyn "Big Merv" Shields – bass (1986–1989)
• Martin Cross – guitar (1987–1988)
• Ross McGarry – guitar (?)
• John Burnley – drums (1987–1991)
• Steve "Stigger" Calladine – guitar, piano (1990–1993)
• Jon "Smiley / Icky" Hickson – bass (1990–1993)
• Paul "Mushy" Marshall – drums (1991–1993)
• Mark French
• Geoff Williams
• Mark Neeson
• Joseph Smith
• Murray Holmes
• Dave Wane
• Colin Smith
• Mike French
• Andrew Skinner
• Ford Freemantle

{{Redirect|Hail Victory (album)|the Nazi chant|Sieg Heil}}

• All Skrewed Up (1977) (Chiswick) (later re-issued as The Early Years with extra tracks)
• Hail the New Dawn (1984) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Blood & Honour (1985) (Rock-O-Rama)
• White Rider (1987) (Rock-O-Rama)
• After the Fire (1988) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Warlord (1989) (Rock-O-Rama)
• The Strong Survive (1990) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Freedom What Freedom (1992) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Hail Victory (1994) (Asgard Records – A division of Rock-O-Rama)

• Back with a Bang / I Don't Like You (1982) (SKREW1 label)
• Boots & Braces (1987) (previously released tracks) (Rock-O-Rama)
• Voice of Britain (1987) (previously released tracks) (Rock-O-Rama)

• "You're So Dumb" / "Better Off Crazy" (1977) (Chiswick)
• "Antisocial" / "Breakdown" (1977) (Chiswick)
• "Street Fight" / "Unbeliever" (1977) (Chiswick – recorded but not released)
• "Built Up, Knocked Down" / "Case of Pride" / "Breakout" (1979) (TJM label)
• "White Power" / "Smash the IRA" / "Shove the Dove" (1983) (White Noise)
• "Voice of Britain" / "Sick Society" (1984) (White Noise)
• "Invasion" / "On the Streets" (1984) (Rock-O-Rama)
• "After the Fire" / "Sweet Home Alabama (cover version of Lynyrd Skynyrd)" (1988) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Land of Ice" / "Retaliate" (1988) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Their Kingdom Will Fall" / "Simple Man" (1989) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "The Evil Crept In" / "Glory" (1989) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "The Showdown" / "Deep Inside" (1990) (White Pride Records)
• "You're So Dumb" / "The Only One" (1990) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Streetfight" / "Where's It Gonna End" (1990) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Stand Proud" / "Backstabber" (1991) (Street Rock'n'Roll)
• "Warzone" / "Shining Down" (1991) (Street Rock'n'Roll)

• Undercover (2007) (collection of cover songs) {{cite web |title=Skrewdriver – Undercover |url=http://www.discogs.com/Skrewdriver-Undercover/release/3274883 |website=Discogs}}

• Live Marquee (1977)
• We've Got the Power (1987) (Viking) (live) (reissued on CD with bonus live & demo tracks)
• Live and Kicking (1991) (Rock-O-Rama) (double album)
• Live at Waterloo (1995) (ISD/White Terror) (recorded 12 September 1992)
• This One's for the Skinheads (live, recorded 23 April 1987)
• The Last Gig in Germany (1996)

• Peel Session (1977){{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1970s/1977/Oct19skrewdriver/ |title=BBC – Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – 19/10/1977 Skrewdriver |work=BBC.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2012}} BBC Radio 1

• "Government Action" on Catch a Wave (1978) – 10-inch 2×LP by NICE
• "You're So Dumb" on Long Shots, Dead Certs and Odds On Favorites (Chiswick Chartbusters Vol.2) (1978) – LP by Chiswick
• "When the Boat Comes In" on This Is White Noise (1983) – 7-inch EP featuring three other bands
• "Boots & Braces" and "Antisocial" on United Skins (1982) – LP by The Last Resort shop
• "Don't Let Them" and "Tearing Down the Wall" on No Surrender (1985) – LP by Rock-O-Rama
• "Land of Ice", "Free Men" and "The New Boss" on Gods of War 1 (1987) – LP by Street Rock & Roll
• "Rising" and "We Can't Be Beaten" on Gods of War 2 (1989) – LP by Street Rock & Roll
• "Antisocial" on The Ugly Truth About Blackpool (2005) – CD by Just Say No to Government Music
• "Night Trains" on Ballads of Blood and Honor (?) – CD by Unknown Grito sudaka

• List of neo-Nazi bands

{{Reflist}}

• White Noise: Inside the International Nazi Skinhead Scene. Edited by Nick Lowles and Steve Silver, London 1998. {{ISBN|0-9522038-3-9}}.
• Skrewdriver: The First Ten Years – The Way It's Got to Be! by Joe Pearce. Skrewdriver Services, London 1987.
• Ian Stuart – His Message Across to You. Everlasting Songs. Excalibur Services, Antwerp 1995.
• Diamond in the Dust – The Ian Stuart Biography. Blood and Honour England, London 2002.
• Nazi Rock Star – Ian Stuart-Skrewdriver Biography by Paul London (a.k.a. Paul Burnley of No Remorse). Midgård, Gothenburg 2002.
• Ian Stuart Donaldson – Memories by Mark Green. PC Records, Chemnitz 2007.
• Ian Stuart Donaldson – Rock'n Roll Patriot (Memories II) by Mark Green. Mark Green, 2012.

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.skrewdriver.com Skrewdriver.com]

{{Authority control}}

Category:1976 establishments in England

Category:1993 disestablishments in England

Category:Anti-communist organizations

Category:British neo-Nazi propagandists

Category:British political music artists

Category:Chiswick Records artists

Category:English punk rock groups

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1979

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993

Category:Musical groups established in 1976

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1982

Category:Neo-Nazi musical groups

Category:Neo-Nazism in the United Kingdom

Category:Oi! groups