 |
Christina AmphlettAustralian singer and actress, vocalist of the rock band "Divinyls"
Date of Birth: 25.10.1959
Country:  Australia |
Content:
Biography of Christina Amphlett
Early Life and CareerChristina Amphlett is an Australian singer, actress, and the lead vocalist of the rock band Divinyls. Known for her vibrant stage presence and dynamic, aggressive style of performance, she is often referred to as a "legend of Australian rock". Amphlett had dreamed of becoming a singer and dancer since childhood. At the age of 14, she ran away from home and joined a rock band in Melbourne, where she made her debut on stage. In 1971, she found herself in Sydney as a part of One Ton Gypsy, an ambitious country music project. At 17, Amphlett flew to Europe, where she embarked on a solo journey through England, France, and Spain. She slept on the streets of Paris and spent three months in prison in Spain for vagrancy. Upon her return to Sydney, Amphlett joined a church choir to develop the upper register of her voice. During one of her performances, she stumbled over a chair, got tangled in a microphone wire, but continued singing while dragging the chair along, pretending nothing had happened. This incident made a strong impression on guitarist Mark McEntee, who was in the audience, and he decided to introduce himself to the girl. This marked the beginning of their fruitful professional collaboration and intense personal relationship.
Success with Divinyls
In December 1980, the duo began performing in Sydney nightclubs and soon expanded into a full band with musicians who had previous experience but had not achieved success. The exception was bassist Jeremy Paul, who was part of the original lineup of Air Supply. Divinyls caught the attention of film director Ken Cameron, who was looking for a musical group to feature in the movie "Monkey Grip". Amphlett made such an impression on him that he specifically added a new role to the script for her. The single from the soundtrack, "Boys in a Town," was released with a music video that showcased Amphlett at her best: wearing fishnet stockings, a school uniform, and filmed from a low angle, walking with a microphone on a metal grate. This stage persona became central to Divinyls' career. The single entered the top ten of the Australian charts and generated a frenzy around the band, resulting in a major contract with Chrysalis Records. At one point, the label executives suggested that Amphlett fix her protruding tooth, to which she vehemently refused, believing that she should always remain true to herself. The career of Divinyls had its ups and downs due to changing band members and problems with producers. Three producers took turns recording their album "What a Life" in 1985. The breakthrough for the band came with the hit song "I Touch Myself" in 1991, which topped the Australian charts and reached the top ten in the US and UK.
Later Life and Legacy
Unable to sustain their success, Divinyls released their next album, "Underworld," six years later, after which the band disbanded, and Amphlett ended her relationship with McEntee. She moved to New York, got married, and released her autobiography "Pleasure and Pain: My Life," which caused a sensation in Australia. Amphlett and McEntee had minimal contact after their breakup but reconnected after Divinyls were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006, promising to release a new album. However, Amphlett faced serious health problems, revealing in an interview in December 2007 that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis and undergoing intensive treatment. Amphlett also pursued an acting career, making her debut in the film "Monkey Grip" in 1982, for which she was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1988, she participated in and later starred in the first Australian production of the musical "Blood Brothers" alongside Russell Crowe. Amphlett was invited to portray Judy Garland in the original production of the musical "The Boy from Oz" based on Peter Allen's life. While her role on Broadway was eventually taken over by Isabel Keating, Amphlett reprised the role during the Australian tour of the musical. In 1999, Christina Amphlett married drummer Charley Drayton, who played on Divinyls' 1991 album and was a member of the reformed band's updated lineup. Prior to her marriage, Amphlett had an extensive relationship with Mark McEntee, who was married at the time. She is also the cousin of Australian singer Little Pattie, whose real name is Patricia Amphlett.
