Chrissy Amphlett Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

I was saddened to hear the news this morning that Chrissy Amphlett has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s currently undergoing treatment in her New York City home, where she lives with her husband.

In typical Chrissy fashion, she’s pledged to fight the cancer, just as she has Multiple Sclerosis. That disease means she can’t have radiation treatment, so she’s in for one hell of a battle.

But if anyone’s up to it, it’s Chrissy. They don’t make them much tougher than her after all. My thoughts are with her and her family at this difficult time.

Moments like this make me want to revisit some of the music and remember performers at their height of their power. For me, it doesn’t get much better than Chrissy belting out “Boys in Town.” What’s your favourite Divinyls track?

Stars Rock for Breast Cancer Awareness

Last night some of Australia’s greatest musicians played for a very special audience. Concert for the Cure was the perfect way to end breast cancer awareness month, and something the crowd of people touched by the disease won’t forget in a hurry.

The concert was the brainchild of 20-year-old Nicholas Vindin. The university student lost his mother to breast cancer four years ago, and wanted to help raise awareness of the disease amongst young people.

“When I finished school I knew I had to do not just something for Mum, but something for everybody affected by breast cancer,” Nicholas told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Our dream was to have some of Australia’s top music artists, but I never thought it would come to this.”

With the help of cable music channel MAX, Nicholas assembled a dream bill of Powderfinger, Missy Higgins, Kev Carmody, and Nic Cester. He hopes the concert will become an annual event.

The concert had a special significance for Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning, whose sister-in-law is currently receiving treatment for breast cancer.

“Breast cancer has been incredibly well promoted, for want of a better word, and the awareness is really growing but it needs to continue,” he said. “Nearly everybody in Australia ends up being affected by cancer in some way.”

700 breast cancer survivors, their families, attended the invite-only concert and breast cancer nurses.

Most of us missed seeing it live, but you can watch its premiere on MAX this Saturday at 7:30 pm. You can also donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through the MAX website.

Image source: Angiola Harry @ Unsplash