Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - L to Z»Artists - S
    Artists - S Music - 1970s Music - 1980s 3 Mins Read

    Skrewdriver

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Skrewdriver were formed in Blackpool in 1976 by Ian Stuart Donaldson after he saw The Sex Pistols in Manchester. The band later changed into a skinhead band and then became one of the first White Power bands, playing a leading role in the far right ‘Rock Against Communism’ movement.

    Although the original band had a reputation for attracting violence at their concerts (Bob Geldof was reportedly knocked unconscious by a friend of Donaldson at one concert), they did not openly support any political party.

    In 1978, Donaldson moved to Manchester, where he recruited guitarist Glenn Jones and drummer Martin Smith. This line-up toured extensively, but certain venues were reluctant to book the band because of their reputation as a skinhead band.

    Performing largely for a skinhead audience, the first versions of the band released one album and two singles on the Chiswick label.

    skrewdriver1

    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.

    The reformed Skrewdriver eventually became openly supportive of far right-wing groups, after a period of denying such claims. Donaldson eventually described himself as a neo-Nazi, 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 and raised funds for them (and affiliated organisations) through the White Noise record label. They released records on Rock-O-Rama Records, a record label that became known for far-right sympathies.

    Skrewdriver was instrumental in setting up Blood and Honour, a network of bands promoting militant neo-Nazi ideas through music and concerts.

    Some members of the original Skrewdriver did not like the new direction in which Donaldson took the band. Roger Armstrong of Chiswick Records stated: “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.”

    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.

    Ian Stuart Donaldson
    Vocals, guitar
    Ron Hartley
    Guitar
    Kev McKay
    Bass
    John “Grinny” Grinton
    Drums
    Phil Walmsley
    Guitar

    Related Posts

    • Stiv Bators
      Stiv Bators
      Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1949, Stiv Bators (real name,…
    • Feather/Blackfeather
      Feather/Blackfeather
      The nucleus of Sydney band Feather came together in early…
    • Siouxsie & The Banshees
      Siouxsie & The Banshees
      Siouxsie Sioux (real name Susan Janet Ballion) grew up in Chislehurst,…
    • Slaughter & The Dogs
      Slaughter & The Dogs
      Slaughter and the Dogs emerged from the Manchester punk scene in 1977,…
    • Magma
      Magma
      French prog rock band Magma were assembled by seismic drummer…
    • Television
      Television
      The inaugural house band at CBGB's in New York, and contemporaries of Patti…
    • Young Docteurs, The
      Young Docteurs, The
      The Young Docteurs formed in Canberra (Australia) in 1978, inspired…
    • Jook
      Jook
      Formed in 1971, Jook were the brainchild of Sparks manager John…

    Oi!
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleSkip Bifferty
    Next Article Sky

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • She’ll Follow You Anywhere (1971)
      Scientists Alan Simpson (Keith Barron) and Mike Carter (Kenneth […]
    • Top Secret
      1 9 6 1 – 1 9 6 2 (UK) 26 x 60 minute episodes Best […]
    • Nobody’s Perfect
      1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 2 (UK) 14 x 30 minute episodes This […]
    • Austin Princess (Vanden Plas)
      As the 1970s dawned, Austin decided that they would produce a […]
    • Beachcombers, The
      1 9 7 2 – 1 9 9 0 (Canada) 324 x episodes The Beachcombers […]
    • Quick Before They Catch Us
      1 9 6 6 (UK) 20 x 25 minute episodes A gang of three teenagers […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.