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Ian Stuart Donaldson (August 11, 1957–September 24, 1993), commonly known as Ian Stuart, was the founder of Skrewdriver, a British punk rock and skinhead band.

Although the band's original lineup directed its energies towards a mixed punk rock crowd, the reformed band became increasingly associated with racist skinhead subculture. By the time of Stuart's death, Skrewdriver was known for its involvement in developing the white power rock music scene.

Musician

Stuart was born in Poulton-le-Fylde and was brought up in Blackpool, where he formed the band Skrewdriver in 1976. Skrewdriver was formed from the ashes of Tumbling Dice (a covers band who played material by The Rolling Stones, Free and The Who), and was inspired by Ian seeing the Sex Pistols play in Manchester. Skrewdriver at first had a punk image, and then they experimented with their look before eventually adopting the skinhead image. The original band had a reputation for attracting violence at their concerts (Bob Geldof was reportedly knocked unconscious at one Skrewdriver show), but they did not openly support any political party.

Файл:IanStuart1977.jpg

Stuart as a punk (1977).

Although both Skrewdriver and the band Sham 69 had skinhead followings and racist fans early in their careers, Skrewdriver failed to get the same mainstream promotion that Sham 69 did, possibly because unlike Skrewdriver, Sham 69 denounced their racist fans, and even performed at Rock Against Racism concerts.

After the original Skrewdriver lineup parted ways in 1979, Stuart reformed the band and began to write for a white power skinhead audience, receiving a great deal of promotion from the far right. The new Skrewdriver was openly supportive of extreme right-wing groups such as the National Front and Combat 18, raising funds for them (and affiliated organizations) through their White Noise Records label. As a result, Skrewdriver became known for racism, patronizing the white nationalist political agenda, and helping to pioneer programs such as Rock Against Communism.

Stuart, along with Nicky Crane, founded Blood and Honour, a neo-Nazi network that distributes white power music and organizes concerts. Stuart became leader of two other bands, White Diamond and The Klansmen, He also released several solo albums, including Patriotic Ballads volumes 1 and 2 with Skrewdriver guitarist Stigger, which covered traditional songs such as The Green Fields of France.

Stuart was one of the principal organisers of a concert near Waterloo station in London in 1992. Anti-Nazi groups organized a protest, resulting in confrontations and a near riot. Shortly before this, Stuart had taken a part-time job at a supermarket to help pay his rent. His employers dismissed him from his position after the incident.^{[Источник?]}

As a result of his work, Stuart became an influential person in the white power movement, helping it attract international attention. His voice could be heard on rock band No Remorse's 1989 album "See you in Valhalla" in the song The Invisible Empire (whose title refers the Ku Klux Klan). Female vocalist Saga released three Tribute to Skrewdriver albums after his death, and Skrewdriver is still one of the most covered bands within the white power music scene.

In July 1993, Ian Stuart and Skrewdriver played their final concert in Waiblingen, Germany. The program, Kreuzritter für Deutschland, was organized by Andreas J. Voigt.

Death

In September 1993, Donaldson was killed in a car crash in Derbyshire. He was 36 years old at the time of his death.

Trivia

• At one point, Stuart was close with Graham McPherson (Suggs) of the 2 Tone band Madness. They parted ways after Stuart became known in the press as an outspoken racist.
• The Hardcore punk band MDC ridiculed Donaldson's death with their song "Nazis Shouldn't Drive".
• The anti-fascist skinhead band Stage Bottles has a song called "Dead But Not Forgiven", which includes the lines "Ian couldn't drive a car / As we all know / He trusted too much in all his gods"

Bibliography

• White Noise: Inside the International Nazi Skinhead Scene, edited by Nick Lowles and Steve Silver (ISBN 0-9522038-3-9)
• 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.

See also

• Nationalism
• Neo-Nazism
• Nazi Skinhead
• Nazi Punk
• Rock Against Communism
• Skrewdriver
• Blood and Honour
• Saga (singer)

External links

• http://skrewdriver.net/stuart.html
• http://stefan.sonic.tripod.com/skrewdriver.htm - complete Ian Stuart and Skrewdriver discography
• http://www.ainaskin.com - site dedicated to Skrewdriver and Ian Stuart
• http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriver.htm - information about early Skrewdriver
• Ian Stuart in Germany
• ISD Records/Combat 18/Blood & Honour [1]