Skrewdriver
| Skrewdriver | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Poulton-le-Fylde, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–1979, 1982-1993 |
| Labels |
Chiswick Rock-O-Rama White Noise |
| Associated acts | The Klansmen, Tumbling Dice, White Diamond |
| Past members |
Ian Stuart Donaldson Phil Walmsley Ron Hartley Kevin McKay John "Grinny" Grinton |
Skrewdriver was a rock band formed by Ian Stuart Donaldson in Poulton-le-Fylde, England in 1976. Beginning as a non-political, non-racist punk rock/Oi! band, Skrewdriver evolved into the most prominent neo-Nazi rock band in the world. Their original line-up split in January 1979 and Donaldson reformed the band with different musicians in 1982. The new version of the band played a leading role in the Rock Against Communism movement.
Ian Stuart Donaldson, formerly of the cover band Tumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver as a punk rock band in Poulton-le-Fylde in 1976. 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 Built Up Knocked Down EP (1979).
Donaldson resurrected the band name Skrewdriver in 1982 with a new band line-up. Although the original band had a minor 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), they did not openly support any political ideology or organisation.
The reformed Skrewdriver eventually became openly supportive of far right white nationalist groups, after a lengthy period of publicly denying such support. The band released the White Power single 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. 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." 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 far-right sympathies. Skrewdriver was instrumental in setting up Blood & Honour, a neo-Nazi music promotion network.
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