Christine Joy "Chrissy" Amphlett (25 October 1959 – 21 April 2013) was an influential Australian singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock group Divinyls. Amphlett's powerful and idiosyncratic delivery, combined with a provocative stage persona, helped the band reach audiences in Australia and internationally. Her public image, songwriting partnership and recorded work left a lasting mark on late 20th-century rock.

Early life

Amphlett was born in Geelong in the state of Victoria, Australia. She began performing as a teenager and developed a theatrical approach to performance that drew attention from local music scenes. Amphlett met guitarist and co‑writer Mark McEntee early in her career; their creative partnership formed the core of Divinyls and shaped much of the group's material.

Career and rise to prominence

Divinyls emerged in the early 1980s and over the following decade became one of Australia's best known rock acts. Amphlett's confrontational stage manner, combined with melodic songwriting and radio-friendly arrangements, produced singles that garnered both chart success and critical attention. She also recorded solo material and collaborated with other musicians, demonstrating range beyond the band's immediate catalogue.

Musical style and public image

Amphlett's singing was characterised by a raw, urgent tone and a direct, often theatrical delivery. On stage she frequently used strong visual motifs and choreography that amplified lyrical themes of desire, rivalry and resilience. Critics and fans often noted the contrast between Amphlett's vulnerable lines and her aggressive presentation, a tension that became a defining feature of the band's appeal.

Notable recordings

Among the songs most closely identified with Amphlett are tracks that combined pop hooks with rock energy and frank lyrical content. These recordings brought the band mainstream recognition and enduring radio presence.

  • I Touch Myself — an international hit that broadened the band's audience
  • Boys in Town — an early staple that showcased Amphlett's intensity
  • Pleasure and Pain — a commercially successful single illustrating the group's dynamics

Health, later years and death

In later life Amphlett faced serious health problems. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and later developed breast cancer, conditions that affected her ability to perform and record. Amphlett died in New York City on 21 April 2013 at the age of 53. Her passing prompted tributes from peers and renewed interest in her contribution to rock music.

Legacy

Chrissy Amphlett is remembered for a distinctive vocal character, an uncompromising stage persona, and for helping to bring Australian rock to wider attention. Musicians and commentators continue to cite her work with Divinyls and her solo efforts when discussing bold performance, female-fronted rock and the crossover of Australian acts into international markets.