Christine Joy Amphlett | 1959 - 2013
“She was courageous, she was original, she was a great poet. She had an incredible voice that was instantly recognisable, and she was, underneath all that, delicate.” -Mark McEntee
Chrissy Amphlett’s death hits me especially hard because she’s one of the two rock stars who has literally changed my life and who I love the most. While I do not excessively collect her photos, records and memorabilia she has a very big place in my heart.
There’s music you like, and music you love and there’s music you love. Divinyls is such a band for me. There’s not one of their songs I don’t like. Not one. Their sound is so unique and varied that it’s hard to believe they aren’t more well-known outside of Australia.
She paved the way for women like Courtney Love - who has cited Chrissy as a major style inspiration -, but usually gets about zero credit for it. If you listen to bands like Royal Trux you get the feeling Jennifer Herrema straight-up copied her vocal style.
Reading and listening to several news reports today the word that kept coming up was “primal”. I remember one other article from a long time ago where the author wrote Chrissy had the grace of an animal on stage.
Unfortunately I have never gotten the chance to see her live on stage but from dozens of concert videos I’ve seen she always seemed like a restless animal when performing. Or maybe she was just more in touch with her deepest feelings and lived them out without restraining herself in any way.
You could say Chrissy Amphlett was rock’n’roll in human form. Her voice was her - versatile - instrument. She could growl like a wild hyeana or hit notes so high it sent shivers down your spine. Like all good rock’n’roll she was made from both pleasure and pain.
She defeated alcohol addiction and - though we all know she’d hate reading this - bravely battled MS and breast cancer. After getting a double mastectomy and experimental MS treaments things were looking up and Chrissy was looking forward to record new music.
During all this her husband Charley Drayton, ex-Divinyls drummer and producer, stood by her side. He released a beautiful statement on the ARIA website this morning. Knowing that Chrissy died peacefully in her sleep makes it a little less painful. My favourite passage is the following.
“Chrissy’s light burns so very brightly. Hers was a life of passion and creativity; she always lived it to the fullest. With her force of character and vocal strength she paved the way for strong, sexy, outspoken women.”
May Chrissy’s light shine on ever so brightly and inspire people for a long time to come. You were truly one of a kind. Thank you for everything you have done for me without even knowing it. I will love you forever.
pixelskylines
kaledo-art
theartofmadeline
ellievsbear
tangentwithtanner
