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Divinyls

From Alfawiki
Divinyls
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1980 in Sydney, Australia
FounderChrissy Amphlett, Mark McEntee
Defunct2009
FateDisbanded
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Area served
Australia, United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Key people
Chrissy Amphlett (vocals), Mark McEntee (guitar)
ProductsStudio albums, singles, live performances

Divinyls () were a rock group originating from Sydney, Australia, in 1980, with vocalist Chrissy Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee as the principal members. Amphlett was recognized for her dynamic stage performances, often donning a school uniform paired with fishnet stockings and wielding a neon tube as a theatrical device to express confrontation toward both bandmates and the audience. Initially formed as a five-member ensemble, the band underwent several personnel changes over time, maintaining Amphlett and McEntee as the enduring nucleus until their breakup in 1996.

In May 2001, the APRA honored their track "Science Fiction" by including it among the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. The group earned induction into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2006. Amphlett and McEntee reunited in late 2007 to produce a new single and began developing an album, followed by a short series of live performances across Australia in early 2008. The Divinyls formally disbanded in 2009; Amphlett died in 2013.

Their discography comprises five studio albums—four of which entered the Top 10 on Australian charts—while their eponymous album Divinyls attained No. 15 on the US charts and No. 33 in Canada. Their most successful single, "I Touch Myself" (1990), achieved No. 1 in Australia, No. 4 in the United States, No. 10 in the United Kingdom, and No. 13 in Canada.

1980s: Formation, Desperate, What a Life!, and Temperamental

Chrissy Amphlett was related as first cousin to Patricia "Little Pattie" Amphlett, a notable Australian pop figure from the 1960s. In her 2005 memoir Pleasure and Pain, Amphlett recounted her entry into music at age fourteen and how her performances reflected early emotional struggles.

Amphlett met guitarist Mark McEntee through Jeremy Paul (formerly of Air Supply) following her performance with Batonrouge in Sydney. They crossed paths again at the Sydney Opera House in 1980 and subsequently enlisted keyboardist Bjarne Ohlin and drummer Richard Harvey. For almost two years, they played gigs at Sydney pubs while Paul secured publishing and recording agreements, culminating in a contract with WEA. Director Ken Cameron took notice of the group, featuring Divinyls on his 1982 film Monkey Grip soundtrack, with Amphlett, Paul, and McEntee also appearing as supporting actors. Singles released from this soundtrack EP included "Boys in Town", which climbed to No. 8 nationally. The band also performed at the 1983 US Festival.

Following early achievements, original manager and bassist Jeremy Paul departed. His position was briefly filled by Ken Firth (ex-The Ferrets), then by Rick Grossman (ex-Matt Finish), who exited in 1987 to join Hoodoo Gurus. By 1988, Divinyls primarily consisted of Amphlett and McEntee, supplemented by various musicians for studio recordings and tours.

Throughout the decade, Divinyls produced four albums: Music from Monkey Grip EP (WEA, 1982), Desperate (Chrysalis Records, 1983), What a Life! (1985), and Temperamental (1988). The latter two were also distributed in the United States. Australian chart successes included "Science Fiction" (No. 13), "Good Die Young" (No. 32), and "Pleasure and Pain" (No. 11), penned by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman. Manager Vince Lovegrove orchestrated their transition from WEA to Chrysalis and facilitated initial US tours that cultivated a fanbase despite limited commercial breakthroughs. Additional hits in Australia featured covers such as The Easybeats' "I'll Make You Happy" and Syndicate of Sound's "Hey Little Boy" retitled "Hey Little Girl," which reached No. 25 in 1988. Amphlett emerged as a bold and sometimes divisive figure due to her outspoken demeanor, provocative image, and rebellious lyrical themes.

Image transformation

At first, Divinyls were identified primarily as a hard rock group, with lead singer Amphlett frequently likened to AC/DC's Angus Young because of their comparable stage presence and their early 1980s use of school uniform-inspired costumes—a style Amphlett acknowledged was influenced by Young's signature look. After the release of What a Life!, the band's visual presentation shifted toward more intricate outfits and a sound leaning into pop music. By the time Temperamental was issued, Divinyls had embraced a glamorous fashion direction that reflected prevailing pop culture trends.

1990s: diVINYLS & Underworld

In 1991, Divinyls delivered the album diVINYLS through Virgin Records, which included their sole Australian chart-topping single, "I Touch Myself". This song also climbed to No. 4 in the United States and reached No. 10 in the United Kingdom. Unlike most of their hits co-written by Amphlett and McEntee, this track was created in partnership with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.[1] The album itself attained No. 5 on Australian charts and No. 15 on the US Billboard Top 200.[2][3] Drummer Charley Drayton, who contributed to diVINYLS, married Amphlett in 1999, and the couple later settled in New York. Although they achieved domestic acclaim, conflicts with Virgin Records hindered their international expansion. Nonetheless, they produced further Australian top twenty singles such as "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" (No. 19, 1992) and "I'm Jealous" (No. 14, 1995).[2] During this era, both Amphlett and McEntee engaged in songwriting collaborations and solo ventures.[4][5]

After the 1991 release of the live album Divinyls Live, the band paused studio album production for five years. In the early 1990s, they contributed cover songs to various film soundtracks, including "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), "Wild Thing" for Reckless Kelly (1993), and "Love Is the Drug" for Super Mario Brothers (1993).[4][6]

The controversial single "I Touch Myself" encountered bans on radio play in certain US regions, resulting notably in the band being abruptly cut off during a performance at Austin Aqua Fest in 1991.

Their fifth studio album, Underworld, was released domestically by BMG in 1996. After their contract with Virgin Records ended following diVINYLS, BMG did not extend distribution of Underworld to the US market. Production credits include Peter Collins ("I'm Jealous"), Keith Forsey ("Sex Will Keep Us Together," "Heart of Steel"), and drummer Drayton, who completed remaining tracks after Forsey departed due to creative disagreements.[7] By late 1996, internal conflicts caused Amphlett and McEntee to part ways personally without formally dissolving Divinyls.[8]

1998–2005: After the separation

Post-Underworld, Amphlett transitioned into theatre, most prominently portraying Judy Garland in the acclaimed 1998 Australian staging of The Boy from Oz, earning a Helpmann Award nomination for 'Best Female Actor in a Musical'. Both Amphlett and McEntee concentrated on individual projects; Amphlett and Drayton relocated to New York City around 2000, while McEntee managed the clothing brand Wheels and Doll Baby based in Perth, alongside partner Melanie Greensmith. In November 2005, Amphlett released her memoir titled Pleasure and Pain: My Life, co-written with Larry Writer, chronicling her career highlights, battles with addiction, and personal experiences during her tenure with Divinyls.

2006–2012: Hall of Fame Induction and Band Revival

On 16 August 2006, Divinyls were honored with induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, marking their first live appearance in ten years. Shortly after, they reunited and issued a compilation album titled Greatest Hits through EMI Music Australia in August 2006. The group produced four new songs through remote collaboration—Amphlett and Drayton worked from Las Vegas, while McEntee contributed from Perth. The single "Don't Wanna Do This"/"Asphyxiated" was released in November 2007, and "All Pretty Things" featured on a Homebake Festival compilation. Amphlett expressed intentions to create a full-length album depending on the success of their touring.

In November 2007, Divinyls performed at the Australian Idol grand final, followed by a national tour with Drayton on drums, Jerome Smith handling bass, Charlie Owen on guitar, and Clayton Doley playing keyboards. On 7 December 2007, Amphlett revealed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis during an interview but affirmed her dedication to continue touring. The next day, the band headlined the Homebake festival where Amphlett displayed emotional openness on stage. By August 2009, Amphlett announced the group's dissolution and her plans to establish a new band based in New York.

2013–present: Amphlett’s Passing and Cancelled Reunion Plans

Chrissy Amphlett passed away at age 53 on 21 April 2013 in New York City after a prolonged battle with breast cancer that began in 2010. Due to complications from multiple sclerosis, she was unable to receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments. Her cousin Patricia Thompson publicly shared her passing, emphasizing Amphlett’s courageous fight against both illnesses. In 2014, well-known Australian female artists recorded covers of "I Touch Myself" to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.

In 2017, Divinyls briefly reunited for a one-off concert in Perth featuring guest vocalists Isabella Manfredi and guitarist Jack Moffit performing alongside McEntee, Grossman, and Harvey.

In December 2018, McEntee announced intentions to revive the band with new lead vocalist Lauren Ruth Ward, former guitarist Frank Infante, and a fresh rhythm section for an Australian tour planned for 2019. This decision drew criticism from Drayton and fans who viewed it as disrespectful toward Amphlett’s legacy. Consequently, the tour was cancelled in February 2019.

Former drummer Warren McLean died in January 2021. Original drummer Richard Harvey passed away on 19 July 2022; his death was confirmed by fellow band member Paul Christie.

Band members

Final line-up

Former members

  • Jeremy Paul – bass
  • Richard Harvey – drums
  • Bjarne Ohlin – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Rick Grossman – bass
  • J. J. Harris – drums
  • Kenny Lyon – keyboards
  • Tommy "Mugs" Cain – drums
  • Tim Millikan – bass
  • Warren McLean – drums
  • Roger Mason – keyboards
  • Tim Powles – drums
  • Randy Jackson – bass
  • Benmont Tench – keyboards


Touring/substitute musicians

  • Ken Firth – bass guitar
  • Matthew Hughes – keyboards, bass guitar
  • Frank Infante – guitar
  • Jim Hilbun – bass
  • Lee Borkman – keyboards, guitar
  • Mark Meyer – drums
  • Duane Jarvis – guitar
  • Randy Wiggins – guitar
  • Scott Kingman – guitar

Discography

Studio albums:

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards honor outstanding achievement and creativity within the Australian music scene annually. Since their inception in 1987, Divinyls were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

|- | 1991 | "I Touch Myself" | Single of the Year | |- | 2006 | Divinyls | ARIA Hall of Fame |


Countdown Australian Music Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music television program broadcast on ABC-TV from 1974 until 1987. The awards, presented from 1979 through 1987—sometimes in collaboration with TV Week—featured a combination of popular vote and industry peer recognition.

|- | rowspan="3" |1981 | rowspan="2" | "Boys in Town" | Best Australian Single | |- | Best Debut Single | |- | Themselves | Best New Talent | |- | rowspan="2" | 1982 | Monkey Grip | Best Debut Album | |- | Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls) | Most Popular Female | |- |1983 | Desperate | Best Australian Album | |- | 1984 | Christina Amphlett – "In My Life" (Divinyls) | Best Female Performance in a Video |


MTV Video Music Awards

Founded by MTV in 1984, the MTV Video Music Awards annually recognize excellence in music video production.

!Ref. |- | rowspan=3|1991 | rowspan=3|"I Touch Myself" | Video of the Year | | rowspan=3| |- | Best Group Video | |- | Viewer's Choice |

See also

Further reading

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named APRA
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Kent
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named BillAlb
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named McF
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Howl
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IMDbCA
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Chrissie
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Herald
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