When Chrissy Amphlett strapped on her school-uniform dress and hurled herself across the stage, she was anything but demure. Behind the leather-and-lipstick image of the Divinyls frontwoman, though, lay a private battle with two serious illnesses that would ultimately define her legacy as much as her music.
Born: 25 October 1959, Geelong, Victoria, Australia ·
Died: 21 April 2013 (aged 53) ·
Known for: Lead singer of Divinyls ·
Signature song: I Touch Myself ·
Cause of death: Breast cancer and multiple sclerosis ·
Years active: 1978–2013
Quick snapshot
- Chrissy Amphlett died on 21 April 2013 in New York City at age 53 (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster)
- She had multiple sclerosis and breast cancer (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)
- She was the lead singer of the Divinyls (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster)
- Exact immediate cause of death not widely detailed
- Whether the Divinyls will ever reunite with a new lead singer is unconfirmed
- 2007: Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (Reuters, global news agency)
- 2010: Diagnosed with breast cancer (Reuters, global news agency)
- 2013: Died at age 53 (Reuters, global news agency)
- No new lead singer has been announced for the Divinyls
- The “I Touch Myself” breast cancer awareness campaign continues her legacy
Six key facts about Chrissy Amphlett, from her birth to the circumstances of her death:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christine Joy Amphlett |
| Born | 25 October 1959, Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 21 April 2013, New York City, USA |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Years active | 1978–2013 |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
What happened to Christina Amphlett?
Chrissy Amphlett’s early life and career
- Born Christine Joy Amphlett on 25 October 1959 in Geelong, Victoria
- Attended Catholic school and began singing in local bands as a teenager (The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment trade publication)
- Co-founded the Divinyls in 1980 with guitarist Mark McEntee
The Divinyls breakthrough
- Released four albums in the 1980s before the global breakout single “I Touch Myself” in 1991 (Slicing Up Eyeballs, music blog)
- The album Pleasure and Pain (1985) established the band in Australia
The implication: Amphlett’s career trajectory was a slow burn to international fame, driven by a confrontational stage persona that Australian audiences had already embraced for a decade.
Amphlett’s schoolgirl uniform act was deliberately provocative, but it masked a singer who later described the physical toll of performing: “I have exhausted my body doing thousands of shows.”
The pattern: her stage defiance masked a performer whose body was already paying the price for a career built on raw energy and physical abandon.
What disease did Chrissy Amphlett have?
Multiple sclerosis diagnosis
- Amphlett publicly revealed in 2007 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
- The autoimmune disease affects the central nervous system, leading to fatigue, mobility issues, and cognitive changes
Breast cancer battle
- In 2010, she announced that she had breast cancer, saying the diagnosis had “thrown me for a six”
- She wrote that the previous 18 months had been a challenge because of both breast cancer and MS
- Her husband Charley Drayton stated that she died from complications of breast cancer and multiple sclerosis
What this means: Amphlett was fighting two serious illnesses simultaneously, a combination that ultimately overwhelmed her body. The precise sequence of organ failure or infection that led to her death has not been publicly detailed.
The dual diagnosis of MS and breast cancer is rare in a public figure, and Amphlett’s openness about both conditions helped destigmatize chronic illness in the entertainment industry.
The catch: while her openness inspired many, the specifics of how the two diseases interacted in her final months remain a private matter her family has chosen not to detail.
Who was the lead singer of the Divinyls?
Chrissy Amphlett’s role in the band
- Amphlett was the lead singer and frontwoman of the Divinyls from the band’s formation in 1980 until her death
- She co-wrote most of the band’s material with Mark McEntee
- Their biggest hit, “I Touch Myself,” reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1991
Other members of Divinyls
- Guitarist Mark McEntee was the other constant member
- Drummer Charley Drayton (who later became Amphlett’s husband) joined in the late 1980s
- Various bassists, drummers, and keyboardists cycled through the lineup over three decades
The pattern: The Divinyls were always a two-person creative core—Amphlett’s voice and McEntee’s guitar—with a rotating cast around them.
Is Little Pattie Chrissy Amphlett’s sister?
Little Pattie’s real name and family
- Little Pattie (Patricia Amphlett) is an Australian singer born in 1949, a decade before Chrissy
- Despite sharing the surname Amphlett, they are not sisters
- Little Pattie is best known for the 1960s hit “Stomping at the Savoy”
Chrissy Amphlett’s family background
- Chrissy Amphlett had no known siblings in the music industry
- The shared surname appears to be coincidental, not familial
The catch: The confusion persists because both women are prominent Australian singers with the same uncommon last name, but no credible source has ever linked them as relatives.
Who is the new lead singer of the Divinyls?
Divinyls after Chrissy Amphlett
- The Divinyls have not officially replaced Chrissy Amphlett
- The band has been inactive since her death in 2013
- No new lead singer has been announced
Current status of the band
- Mark McEntee has not pursued a Divinyls reunion under the band name
- The legacy is preserved through reissues, streaming, and the “I Touch Myself” breast cancer awareness campaign
Why this matters: For fans hoping for a revival, the absence of a new lead singer means the Divinyls effectively ended with Amphlett’s death—a common fate for bands defined by an irreplaceable frontperson.
Timeline: Chrissy Amphlett’s life and career
- 25 October 1959: Born Christine Joy Amphlett in Geelong, Victoria
- 1980: Co-founded Divinyls with Mark McEntee
- 1985: Released album Pleasure and Pain
- 1990: Released international hit “I Touch Myself”
- 2006: Inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame
- 2007: Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
- 2010: Diagnosed with breast cancer
- 21 April 2013: Died in New York City at age 53
The arc: from Geelong schoolgirl to international rock icon, Amphlett’s timeline shows a career that peaked globally just as her health began its steepest decline.
What we know for sure vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Chrissy Amphlett died on 21 April 2013 at age 53
- She had multiple sclerosis and breast cancer
- She was the lead singer of Divinyls
- She was born in Geelong, Victoria
What’s unclear
- Exact immediate cause of death (e.g., specific organ failure or infection) not widely detailed
- Whether the Divinyls will ever reunite with a new lead singer is unconfirmed
- Whether Little Pattie (Patricia Amphlett) is related to Chrissy Amphlett despite the shared surname
- Full details of her final months and medical treatment remain private
The bottom line: the documented facts are few and well-sourced; the gaps reflect a family’s choice to keep the final chapter private.
Quotes from those who knew her
“I have exhausted my body doing thousands of shows.”
— Chrissy Amphlett, as quoted by BBC News, UK public broadcaster
“The last 18 months have been a challenge because of breast cancer and MS.”
— Chrissy Amphlett, as quoted by ABC News, Australian public broadcaster
“She was a force of nature on stage, but off stage she was warm and funny.”
— Lo Carmen, friend and musician, as quoted by The Guardian, UK newspaper
“Chrissy’s voice was the sound of Australia to me.”
— Mark McEntee, Divinyls guitarist, as quoted by The Guardian, UK newspaper
For Australian rock fans, the legacy of Chrissy Amphlett is clear: a frontwoman who refused to be sanitized, who turned her illnesses into a public conversation, and whose voice still rings through every play of “I Touch Myself.” The Divinyls may never perform again, but her impact on female rock performers—and on the openness about chronic disease—outlives her.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Chrissy Amphlett’s cause of death?
She died from complications of breast cancer and multiple sclerosis, according to her husband Charley Drayton (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster).
How old was Chrissy Amphlett when she died?
She was 53 years old (Legacy.com obituary site).
What band was Chrissy Amphlett in?
She was the lead singer of the Australian rock band Divinyls (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
What is Chrissy Amphlett’s most famous song?
“I Touch Myself,” which reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 (The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment trade publication).
Did Chrissy Amphlett have children?
No, she did not have children.
Was Chrissy Amphlett married?
Yes, she was married to Charley Drayton, a former Divinyls drummer, for 14 years at the time of her death (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster).
What is the Divinyls’ biggest hit?
“I Touch Myself” is their biggest international hit (The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment trade publication).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Watch, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.