Information AboutSkrewdriver |
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Skrewdriver was a Punk Rock band formed in Blackpool in 1977 by Ian Stuart Donaldson . They later became associated with Racist , Far Right politics. ORIGINAL LINE-UP Donaldson, formerly of the Rolling Stones cover band Tumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver after seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester . Performing largely for a Skinhead audience, the band released a number of records on the Chiswick label, including the album ''All Skrewed Up'' and the Single s "You're So Dumb" and "Antisocial". They also recorded a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 in 1977. This version of the band split up in 1979 , but Donaldson resurrected the name Skrewdriver in 1982 using new musicians. RIGHT-WING REINCARNATION Although the original band had a reputation for attracting violence at their gigs ( Bob Geldof was reportedly knocked unconscious at one Skrewdriver gig), they did not openly support any political party. The new Skrewdriver, however, were openly sympathetic and supportive of extreme right-wing groups such as the National Front and Combat 18 , and raised funds for them and affiliated organizations through their White Noise record label. They also released records on Rock-O-Rama Records , a label that is known for its far right sympathies, and were instrumental in setting up Blood And Honour , a network of bands promoting White Nationalist ideas through music and gigs. Members of the original Skrewdriver were not impressed by the new direction in which Donaldson took the band, as this interview with Roger Armstrong of Chiswick Records illustrates: :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, (he joined the NF with Ian in 1980 ), Grinny was asked in 2003, "Were you annoyed that he used the name again? How about the other members like Phil, Kev and Ron?" To which he replied "When Ian reformed Skrewdriver, I was glad he had. I saw Ian regularly and knew his plans. I would have liked to join him but I had a steady job and was engaged, so it was not practical at the time. Kev had a successful glass business and we did not know where Phil was. Ian always kept in touch, he used to send me CDs and t-shirts. Whenever he came home we would visit and tell me what was going on with the band. They remained very good friends until Donaldson's death in 1993 . :When they made records for us Ian Stewart 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. The teeth on the back of the sleeve are Patti Paladin's of Snatch fame — NY Art Punk ! {Link without Title} Donaldson died in a car accident in September 1993 . DISCOGRAPHY Studio albums
12" EP's
7" Singles
Live albums
FURTHER READING
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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