Famous faces lost: Chrissy Amphlett
Legendary Aussie rocker Chrissy Amphlett passed away in April at the age of 53, triggering an outpouring of grief and tributes from both fans and fellow musicians.
The former lead singer of the Divinyls battled multiple sclerosis for 15 years, and was unable to receive radiation treatment or chemotherapy after she suffered breast cancer in 2010.
In a statement, her cousin Patricia "Little Pattie" Thompson and family said: "Our beloved Chrissy peacefully made her transition this morning.
"Christine Joy Amphlett succumbed to the effects of breast cancer and multiple sclerosis, diseases she vigorously fought with exceptional bravery and dignity.
"She passed gently, in her sleep, surrounded by close friends and family, including husband of 14 years, musician Charley Drayton, her sister, Leigh, nephew, Matt, and cousin Patricia Thompson.
Amphlett shot to fame as the lead singer of the Divinyls, whose hits, including ‘I Touch Myself’ and ‘Pleasure and Pain’, topped Aussie charts in the 1980s and led to worldwide fame.
In 2001, Divinyls’ song ‘Science Fiction', written by Amphlett and lead guitarist Mark McEntee, was selected by the Australasian Performing Right Association as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.
Five years later, the Divinyls were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, alongside Australian icons Icehouse and Daddy Cool.
The band broke up in 1997, leading Chrissy to pursue a solo career in music and acting.
She starred as Judy Garland in the original production of The Boy from Oz, for which she was nominated for a Helpmann Award for best female actor.
Throughout her illnesses, Amphlett remained positive and vowed to return to the stage in a post left on Facebook in March last year.
"My illnesses have really exhausted this little body of mine that I have thrown from one end of the stage to another and performed thousands of shows that sadly some of you missed," she wrote.
Chrissy expressed hope exclusively to Seven that her worldwide hit ‘I Touch Myself’ would remind women to perform annual breast examinations.
