Tonight, Australian Story continues its two-part look at the life and legacy of Divinyls frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett.
Following on from last week’s episode, the second instalment explores her move to New York, new musical direction, battle with illness and the final recordings she made with Tim Finn.
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Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett was a rock icon who lived hard and burnt bright until her death at 53. Her bad girl persona enthralled fans here and around the world.
“Chrissy Amphlett’s the greatest front woman I’ve ever witnessed”, says rock photographer Tony Mott.
“She prowled the stage … she owned it.”
“I didn’t want to be all nice”, Chrissy said in 1988.
“Men were quite scared of me and I liked that.”
In the 1980s and 90s, the Divinyls had a run of hits but imploded after 16 years, leaving Chrissy in debt and struggling with addiction.
“Alcohol was my everything”, she said. “It was the only way I knew how to cope.” “She accepted that that was something she wanted to change“, says husband and drummer, Charley Drayton.
In this final episode on the Divinyls frontwoman, Chrissy falls in love, moves to New York and finds a new musical direction. In her 40s, she contracts Multiple Sclerosis and later, cancer.
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But before her death, she records three songs with legendary musician Tim Finn that are only now seeing the light of day.
“People are going to hear Chrissy’s voice again’, says Tim.
‘Stand back, people. Get ready.”
Australian Story: Wild – Chrissy Amphlett part 2 airs tonight, Monday 5 October at 8pm on ABC and ABC iview.
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