Chrissy Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett (/æmflət/; 25 October 1959 – 21 April 2013) was an Australian singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the frontwoman of the rock band Divinyls. She was notable for her brash, overtly sexual persona and subversive humour in lyrics, performances and media interviews.
Chrissy Amphlett | |
|---|---|
Amphlett performing in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christine Joy Amphlett |
| Born | 25 October 1959 Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 21 April 2013 (aged 53) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, new wave |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Years active | 1980–2011 |
| Labels | Chrysalis Records, Virgin Records, RCA Records |
Amphlett, Jeremy Paul and guitarist Mark McEntee formed Divinyls in Sydney in 1980. With Amphlett and McEntee as its core members, the band underwent various lineup changes before dissolving in 1996. The band's biggest-selling single, "I Touch Myself" (1990), achieved a No. 1 ranking in Australia, No. 4 in the United States and No. 10 in the United Kingdom (UK). The band was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2006.
On the stage, Amphlett, who was 17 years old, played Linda Lips in the R-rated adults only musical comedy Let My People Come (1976), starred in the musical Blood Brothers (1988) and portrayed Judy Garland in multiple productions of The Boy from Oz. On the screen, she played a supporting role in Monkey Grip (1982).