Normie Rowe. A Compulsory Hero

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This year as part of Australia's 2019 Anzac Memorial, Normie Rowe spoke with 2GB's Alan Jones about the inspiration for his new single.

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Normie  has released a new song, Compulsory Hero" reflecting on his service in Vietnam.
Normie Rowe was one of the biggest pop stars in Australia when he was conscripted into the Vietnam War in 1969.

The nation was involved in the Vietnam War, and 20 year olds were liable for conscription into the military. Normie Rowe's name came up in first 1968 intake. Most conscripts were selected by a ballot of birthday dates but Normie would find out much later, that his birthday was not one of those that was drawn out. It has been suggested by many, that Normie had been conscripted because of who he was.
 He served time in Vietnam, and was one of the lucky ones to return. But those two years away from his fans cost him dearly. 
His two-year stint in the army curtailed his music career, forcing him to start from scratch when he returned.
He told Alan Jones it was one of the most difficult times of his life, something he reflects on in his new recording of the classic Australian ballad "Compulsory Hero".
“Like all of us who were called up, we sort of thought we wouldn’t go.
“I was pretty horrified, that was the first time I’d felt any sort of depression in my life.”
Source: Interview on 2GB with Alan Jones











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