Tag: The Divinyls

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Chrissy Amphlett

Australia has lost one of its most unique female voices with the passing of Chrissy Amphlett. The Divinyls frontwoman passed away in New York City following battles with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. She was just 53 years old.

They broke the mould when they made Chrissy. As a young girl I remember being fascinated by her sexy schoolgirl outfits, fishnet stockings, and husky rasping voice. I couldn’t believe she could get away with singing “I Touch Myself”, and I still think “Boys in Town” is one of the greatest rock songs ever penned.

With her band The Divinyls she earned four top 10 albums locally and one in America. Funnily enough, that shocking “I Touch Myself” song was their biggest-selling single. It reached number one here and cracked the top 10 in the United States and Great Britain. Fittingly the band took their place in the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.

Those facts are impressive, but it’s Chrissy’s sass that I’ll remember most. She was fierce, so different, so charismatic. She will be missed.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Divinyls Are Back

The Divinyls appearance at this year’s Homebake won’t be a one-off. This seminal chick rock band plans to release a new album next year.

The Divinyls are responsible for radio staples like “Science Fiction,” “Pleasure and Pain,” “I Touch Myself” and “Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart.”

Founding members Chrissy Amphlett and Mark McEntee are working on some new songs with Pat Thrall and Charlie Drayton in the United States. Drayton plans to join the band on tour, along with guitarist Charlie Owen. They will apparently announce a bass player soon.

The Divinyls will play Homebake on December 8, The Enmore in Sydney on December 11, The Forum in Melbourne on December 15, and Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on December 20.

Image source: Canley @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Homebake Gets Girly Makeover

It’s all about the girls at this year’s Homebake festival. December’s event will pay homage to the achievements of Australian women in all creative arenas.

So it seems fitting that the headline act will be none other than 80’s supergroup, The Divinyls. The band’s iconic lead singer, Chrissy Amphlett, admitted she is both excited and petrified to return to Oz.

“It is great to be asked to do this and it will be great to perform again,” she told The Daily Telegraph from her New York home.

“But I’m terrified; bloody hell I’m terrified … playing in front of all those people. If I don’t think about all the people it will be all right.”

Missy Higgins, Sarah Blasko, Operator Please, and Angus and Julia Stone will also fly the flag for the girls. Plenty of girl-friendly male artists round up the lineup, including Josh Pyke, Paul Kelly, and Cut Copy.

Homebake promoter Joe Segreto was inspired to inject a feminist touch to the festival after witnessing the global rise of Australian actresses.

“The catalyst for this idea came from working with Toni Collette and her band, expanding my experience of the entertainment industry and witnessing the admiration in our country for the international successes of these women,” he explained.

Homebake will hit Sydney’s Domain on December 8. Tickets go on sale on August 20. As last year’s festival sold out in record time, you’d best get your tickets as soon as you can. You have been warned!

Image source: Homebake website