1927

Compulsary Hero

1989 · Trafalgar 7-257619 · Sydney, Australia

Artist
1927
Title
Compulsary Hero
Release
Compulsary Hero / Propaganda Machine
Year
1989
Label
Trafalgar # 7-257619
Format
7" · Single
Language
English
Country
Sydney, Australia
Songwriter
G. Frost
Genre
Rock · Soft Rock · Pop Rock
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

Pop rock group formed in 1987 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, featuring James Barton (drums, backing vocals, 1987-92), Eric Weideman (vocals, guitar, keyboards, 1988-93), Bill Frost (bass, backing vocals, 1988-93), Garry Frost (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 1988-90), Charlie Cole (keyboards, backing vocals, 1989-92), Dave Dwyer (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, 1990-93), and Phillip Campbell (drums, 1992-93). The title of the song "Compulsary Hero" (Trafalgar Records # 7-257619), from the album ...ish (Trafalgar Records # 255968.2), was a reference to military conscription, reintroduced in 1964 by the Australian government, with 18-25 year old males eligible. The song started with children playing war games, when at the end of the day, everybody would go home safely: "we were kids playing war games in your yard... night would fall... all go home". Then they were grown up, and "a man came on the TV, talking 'bout war". The narrator said "its war without a choice". The song recalled the previous generation: "Grandpa heard the call... a war to end all wars" - a reference to World War One. His "dad went off to do his bit" as well. Now it was "one more crazy war". It leaned…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Pop rock group formed in 1987 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, featuring James Barton (drums, backing vocals, 1987-92), Eric Weideman (vocals, guitar, keyboards, 1988-93), Bill Frost (bass, backing vocals, 1988-93), Garry Frost (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 1988-90), Charlie Cole (keyboards, backing vocals, 1989-92), Dave Dwyer (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, 1990-93), and Phillip Campbell (drums, 1992-93). The title of the song "Compulsary Hero" (Trafalgar Records # 7-257619), from the album ...ish (Trafalgar Records # 255968.2), was a reference to military conscription, reintroduced in 1964 by the Australian government, with 18-25 year old males eligible. The song started with children playing war games, when at the end of the day, everybody would go home safely: "we were kids playing war games in your yard... night would fall... all go home". Then they were grown up, and "a man came on the TV, talking 'bout war". The narrator said "its war without a choice". The song recalled the previous generation: "Grandpa heard the call... a war to end all wars" - a reference to World War One. His "dad went off to do his bit" as well. Now it was "one more crazy war". It leaned…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Formed 1987, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Themes

ANZUS · Draft · WW1

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs