Editing Divinyls

{{Short description|Australian rock band}}
{{About|the rock band|the album|Divinyls (album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Divinyls
| image           = Divinyls.jpg
| caption         = Divinyls in 1982
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| genre           = [[New wave music|New wave]], [[Pub rock (Australia)|pub rock]], [[pop rock]]
| years_active    = 1980–1996, 2006–2009
| label           = [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], [[RCA Records|RCA]], [[Warner Music Group|WEA]]
}}

'''Divinyls''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ɪ|ˈ|v|aɪ|n|əl|z}}) were an Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band that were formed in Sydney in 1980. The band primarily consisted of vocalist [[Chrissy Amphlett]] and guitarist [[Mark McEntee]]. Amphlett garnered widespread attention for performing on stage in a school uniform and fishnet stockings, and she often used an illuminated neon tube as a prop for displaying aggression towards both band members and the audience.<ref name="McF">{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofau00mcfa |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] |year=1999 |isbn=1-86448-768-2 |access-date=30 May 2008 |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref name=pleasure>{{cite book
  | last = Amphlett
  | first = Chrissy
  | author-link = Chrissy Amphlett
  |author2=Larry Writer
  | title = Pleasure and Pain: My Life
  | publisher = Hodder Australia
  | year = 2005
  | location = Sydney
  | pages = 336
  | isbn = 0-7336-1959-2}}
</ref>
Originally a five-piece, the band underwent numerous line-up changes, with Amphlett and McEntee remaining as core members, before its dissolution in 1996.<ref name=pleasure />

In May 2001, the [[Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)]], as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, named "[[Science Fiction (song)|Science Fiction]]" as one of the [[APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs]] of all time.<ref name="Kruger">{{cite web|url=http://www.debbiekruger.com/pdfs/aprathirty.pdf |last=Kruger |first=Debbie |title=The songs that resonate through the years |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |date=2 May 2001 |access-date=30 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030100404/http://www.debbiekruger.com/pdfs/aprathirty.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2008 }}</ref> The band was inducted into the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) [[ARIA Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] in 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees_listing.htm |title=ARIA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees listing |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA)|access-date=25 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080615011737/http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees_listing.htm |archive-date = 15 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |title=Winners by Award: Hall of Fame |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] |access-date=25 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608063019/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |archive-date=8 June 2009 }}</ref><ref name="ARIA2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/news-ARIAhalloffame2006.htm |title=2006 ARIA Hall of Fame Awards |publisher=ARIA |access-date=31 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013120427/http://aria.com.au/pages/news-ARIAhalloffame2006.htm |archive-date=13 October 2011 }}</ref> and in late 2007 Amphlett and McEntee reconvened to record a new single and begin working on a new album.<ref name="Herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/fine-line-between-pleasure-and-pain-for-divinyls-chrissy-amphlett-and-mark-mcentee/news-story/f38371668a825f765f0de5f65c1df5fb |title=Fine line between pleasure and pain for Divinyls |newspaper=[[Herald Sun]] |date=16 November 2007 |last=Adams |first=Cameron |access-date=2017-02-26}}</ref> The band played a short series of live gigs in Australia in late 2007 and early 2008. Divinyls broke up in 2009, and Amphlett died in 2013.

Divinyls released five studio albums—four placed in the Top 10 Australian chart, while one (''[[Divinyls (album)|Divinyls]]'') reached No.&nbsp;15 in the United States (US) and No. 33 for 3 weeks in Canada. Their biggest-selling single "[[I Touch Myself]]" (1990) achieved a No.&nbsp;1 ranking in Australia, No.&nbsp;4 in the United States, No.&nbsp;10 in the United Kingdom (UK), and No. 13 in Canada.<ref name="McF" />

==Career==
===1980s: Formation, ''Desperate'', ''What a Life!'', and ''Temperamental''===
Amphlett was the first cousin of 1960s Australian pop icon [[Little Pattie|Patricia "Little Pattie" Amphlett]].<ref name="McF"/><ref name="LittlePattie">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1838867.htm|title=Patricia Amphlett – Little Pattie|work=Talking Heads with Peter Thompson – transcripts|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC)|date=12 February 2007|access-date=24 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003224230/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1838867.htm|archive-date=3 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In her autobiography ''Pleasure and Pain'' (2005), Amphlett described breaking into the music scene from the age of fourteen, being arrested for [[busking]] when seventeen and travelling in Spain, and how her performances drew upon childhood pain.<ref name="Chrissie">{{cite book |last=Amphlett |first=Christina |author2=Larry Writer |date=November 2005 |title=Pleasure and Pain: My Life |location=Sydney |publisher=Hachette Livre Australia |isbn=0-7336-1959-2 }}</ref>

Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee were introduced by Jeremy Paul (ex-[[Air Supply]]) in the car park of a small music venue in [[Collaroy, New South Wales|Collaroy]], Sydney, after Amphlett and Paul had finished a gig with their then band, Batonrouge. Amphlett and McEntee met again at the [[Sydney Opera House]] where Amphlett and Paul were singing in a choral concert in 1980.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Chrissie"/><ref name="Howl">{{cite web |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20010328130000/http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/divinyls/divinyls.htm |url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/en/divinyls/divinyls.htm |title=The Divinyls |publisher=Howlspace |editor=Ed Nimmervoll |editor-link=Ed Nimmervoll |archive-date=28 March 2001 |access-date=22 January 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> They recruited keyboardist Bjarne Ohlin later in 1980 and drummer Richard Harvey in 1981, respectively,<ref name="ARDb">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121222074952/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/divinyls.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/divinyls.html | title = Divinyls | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Paul | last2 = Baird | publisher = [[Australian Rock Database]]. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) | archive-date = 22 December 2012 | url-status = usurped | access-date = 13 February 2014 }}</ref> and for almost two years they performed in pubs and clubs in Sydney's [[Kings Cross, New South Wales|Kings Cross]]. During this time, Paul negotiated publishing and recording agreements that led to the band signing with WEA. Australian film director Ken Cameron saw Divinyls performing in a club. This led to them providing the soundtrack for his 1982 film ''[[Monkey Grip (film)|Monkey Grip]]'' and also gave Amphlett, Paul and McEntee supporting roles in the movie.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084350/ |title=''Monkey Grip'' at Internet Movie Database (IMDb) |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> The group released two singles from the soundtrack, ''[[Monkey Grip (soundtrack)|Music from Monkey Grip]]'' [[Extended play|EP]],<ref name="Monk">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084350/soundtrack |title=''Monkey Grip'' Soundtrack at IMDb |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> "[[Boys in Town (song)|Boys in Town]]", which reached No.&nbsp;8 on the national singles chart,<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|title=Kent Music Report |last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7--JAAAACAAJ&q=0646119176 |access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref> and "Only Lonely".<ref name="McF"/> The band was the opening act at the [[US Festival#Memorial Day Weekend, 1983|1983 US Festival]].

After the band's initial success, original manager and bassist Jeremy Paul left.<ref name="Howl"/> He was replaced on bass, briefly by Ken Firth (ex-[[The Ferrets (band)|The Ferrets]]) and more permanently by [[Richard Grossman (bassist)|Rick Grossman]] (ex-[[Matt Finish]]).<ref name="ARDb"/> Grossman left in 1987 to replace Clyde Bramley in [[Hoodoo Gurus]].<ref name="ARDbGross">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120329042416/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/grossmanrick.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/grossmanrick.html | title = Rick Grossman | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | publisher = Australian Rock Database . Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) | archive-date = 29 March 2012 | url-status = usurped | access-date = 13 February 2014 }}</ref> By early 1988, Divinyls consisted of Amphlett and McEntee with augmentation by additional musicians when recording or touring.<ref name="McF"/>

Over the decade Divinyls released four albums, ''Music from Monkey Grip'' EP on [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] in 1982, ''[[Desperate (Divinyls album)|Desperate]]'' on [[Chrysalis Records]] in 1983, ''[[What a Life! (album)|What a Life!]]'' in 1985 and ''[[Temperamental (Divinyls album)|Temperamental]]'' in 1988.<ref name="ARDb"/> The latter two albums were also released by Chrysalis in the United States.<ref name="ARDb"/> They had hit singles in Australia with, "[[Science Fiction (song)|Science Fiction]]" No.&nbsp;13 in 1983, "Good Die Young" No.&nbsp;32 in 1984 and "[[Pleasure and Pain (song)|Pleasure and Pain]]" which was written by [[Holly Knight]] and [[Mike Chapman]] and went No.&nbsp;11 in 1985.<ref name="Kent"/> Their later manager [[Vince Lovegrove]] organised Divinyls' transfer from WEA to Chrysalis and their first tours of the United States.<ref name="McF"/> They established a fan base there, without achieving major commercial success. Divinyls also had Australian hits with [[cover version]]s of [[The Easybeats]]' "I'll Make You Happy", and [[Syndicate of Sound]]'s "[[Hey Little Boy]]" ("Hey Little Girl" with the gender switched) which reached No.&nbsp;25 in 1988.<ref name="Kent"/> Amphlett became a controversial and highly visible celebrity for her brash, overtly sexual persona and subversive humour in lyrics, performances, and media interviews.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARIA2006"/><ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/100352/review/5945841/divinyls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123203647/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/100352/review/5945841/divinyls |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2007 |title=''Divinyls'' album review |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |last=Farber |first=Jim |year=1992 |access-date=31 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/artists/divinyls.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020809234517/http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/artists/divinyls.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2002 |title=The Divinyls: Best Music from the 80s |website=80smusiclyrics.com |access-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref>

===Image transformation===
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2023}}
At the start of their popularity, Divinyls were considered to be a [[hard rock]] band. At some point, many fans referred to Amphlett as the female [[Angus Young]] (of AC/DC), as both had similar mannerisms on stage and wore school uniforms while performing in the early 1980s. Amphlett acknowledged Young's schoolboy outfit as the inspiration for her performing in a schoolgirl's uniform.<ref name="Laffan">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/lists/a-history-of-australian-music-in-6-objects/10343512 |title=A History of Australian Music in 6 Objects |first=Carolyn |last=Laffan |author-link=Carolyn Laffan |publisher=[[Double J (radio station)|Double J]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC)) |date=19 December 2017 |access-date=14 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109194454/https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/lists/a-history-of-australian-music-in-6-objects/10343512 |archive-date=9 November 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> The band's image gradually changed after the release of the album ''What a Life!'' when the band began wearing elaborate clothing and producing more songs in the pop music genre. By the time of the release of their album ''Temperamental'', Divinyls' image had changed to a [[glamour (presentation)|glamour]] fashion style where they produced modern pop music.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

===1990s: ''diVINYLS'' & ''Underworld''===
In 1991, Divinyls released ''[[Divinyls (album)|diVINYLS]]'' on [[Virgin Records]] and the single "[[I Touch Myself]]" which became their only Australian No.1 single.<ref name="OzCharts">{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Divinyls |title=Divinyls discography |publisher=australian-charts.com |access-date=31 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202120532/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Divinyls |archive-date=2 February 2009 }}</ref> The song reached No.&nbsp;4 in the United States and No.&nbsp;10 in the United Kingdom. The majority of Divinyls' hits were co-written by Amphlett and McEntee,<ref name="McF"/> but in this case they wrote with [[Tom Kelly (musician)|Tom Kelly]] and [[Billy Steinberg]].<ref name="APRA">{{cite web|url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |title=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |publisher=[[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] |access-date=31 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205184453/http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |archive-date=5 December 2007 }}</ref> ''diVINYLS'' reached No.&nbsp;5 on the Australian album charts<ref name="Kent"/> and No.&nbsp;15 on ''Billboard'' Top 200.<ref name="BillAlb">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r5924/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}} |title=Divinyls at ''Billboard'' singles |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |year=2006 |access-date=30 May 2008}}</ref> The drummer for the ''diVINYLS'' sessions was [[Charley Drayton]], who became romantically involved with Amphlett: they married in July 1999, and from 2000, lived together in New York. A disagreement with Virgin Records stifled future development outside Australia where they released popular albums and achieved two more top twenty singles with "[[I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore]]" No.&nbsp;19 in 1992 and "[[I'm Jealous]]" No.&nbsp;14 in 1995.<ref name="Kent"/> During the 1980s and 1990s Amphlett collaborated as a songwriter with other artists including [[Chrissie Hynde]] and [[Cyndi Lauper]], and both Amphlett and McEntee worked on solo projects.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/>

A live album, ''Divinyls Live'', was released in 1991 but Divinyls did not provide another studio album for five years. In the early 1990s, they recorded a series of cover songs for various movie soundtracks, including the [[The Rascals|Young Rascals]]' "[[I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore]]" for ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' (1992), the Wild Ones' "[[Wild Thing (The Troggs song)|Wild Thing]]" for ''[[Reckless Kelly]]'' (1993), and [[Roxy Music]]'s "[[Love Is the Drug]]" for ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Brothers]]'' (1993).<ref name="McF"/><ref name="IMDbCA">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025353/ |title=Chrissy Amphlett at Internet Movie Database (IMDb) |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=31 May 2008}}</ref>

The song "I Touch Myself" caused such a controversy it had trouble getting airplay in many US-area markets; so much to the point that while performing their song live in Texas at Austin Aqua Fest 1991 the plug was pulled on the band mid-set by organisers.{{cn|date=December 2024}} 

It wasn't until 1996 that their fifth studio album, ''[[Underworld (Divinyls album)|Underworld]]'', was released in Australia by [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]].<ref name="ARDb"/> Despite the success of ''diVINYLS'', Virgin had not kept them under contract and BMG did not release ''Underworld'' in the United States. As with ''What a Life!'', they worked with three producers, beginning with Peter Collins recording "[[I'm Jealous]]" in Nashville, followed by [[Keith Forsey]] for "Sex Will Keep Us Together" and "Heart of Steel".<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/> Although "Heart of Steel" was chosen as a single, Divinyls discontinued working with Forsey because according to Amphlett "he was a bit too 'pop' for us" and remaining tracks were produced by their drummer Drayton.<ref name="Chrissie"/> By the end of 1996, Amphlett and McEntee had a falling out and separated without formally disbanding Divinyls.<ref name="Herald"/>

===1998–2005: After the separation===
Following ''Underworld'', Amphlett pursued a stage career. In 1998, she played the role of [[Judy Garland]] in the Australian stage production of the life story of entertainer [[Peter Allen (musician)|Peter Allen]], titled ''[[The Boy from Oz]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1437/is_199803/ai_n5949270 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202092610/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1437/is_199803/ai_n5949270 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-02-02 |title=''The Boy from Oz'' theater review |publisher=Find Articles at BNET.com |date=March 1998 |last=Woods |first=Mark |access-date=31 May 2008}}</ref> The production was a success and Amphlett's interpretation of Garland, during her final troubled years, brought her critical acclaim: she was nominated for the [[Helpmann Award]] for 'Best Female Actor in a Musical'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theatrepeople.com.au/feature_articles/2007/july/20070710_tp_helpmannawards.htm |title=Helpmann Award Nominations |last=Rafferty |first=Adam |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=31 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724141728/http://theatrepeople.com.au/feature_articles/2007/july/20070710_tp_helpmannawards.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}</ref>

Amphlett and McEntee concentrated on solo projects and collaborations with other artists. Amphlett and Drayton lived in New York City from 2000, while McEntee ran a clothing label, [[Wheels and Doll Baby]], in [[Perth]] with his partner, Melanie Greensmith.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/27/1043534002655.html |title=I write the songs |newspaper=[[The Sun Herald]]|date=28 January 2003 |last=Divola |first=Barry |access-date=31 May 2008}}</ref> In November 2005 Amphlett published her autobiography ''Pleasure and Pain: My Life'' co-written with Larry Writer;<ref name="Chrissie"/> she detailed her achievements, drug and alcohol abuse, love affairs and triumphs while a member of Divinyls.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/book-reviews/pleasure-and-pain-my-life/2005/12/01/1133311152902.html |title=''Pleasure and pain : my life'' – book review |newspaper=[[The Age]] |last=Dwyer |first=Michael |date=3 December 2005 |access-date=31 May 2008 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>

===2006–2012: Hall of Fame and reformation===
[[File:Chrissie Amphlett.jpg|thumb|Chrissy Amphlett in 2007]]
On 16 August 2006, Divinyls were inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] and made their first performance for 10 years at the award ceremony.<ref name="Herald"/> They reformed shortly afterwards and a compilation, ''[[Greatest Hits (Divinyls album)|Greatest Hits]]'', was released by [[EMI|EMI Music Australia]] in August 2006. The band recorded four new songs via a satellite link: Amphlett and Drayton at Palm Studios in [[Las Vegas]] and McEntee in [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]. A single and B-side, "[[Don't Wanna Do This]]"/"Asphyxiated", was released in November 2007, with a third track, "All Pretty Things", released on a compilation album for the Homebake Festival. Amphlett stated that the band would return to the studio to record a full album provided they "survived" their Homebake headline gig and national tour.<ref name=newalbum>{{cite news |last=Winterford |first=Brett|title=Divinyls|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/divinyls/2007/12/07/1196812966879.html|access-date=23 April 2013 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 December 2007}}</ref>

They performed during the ''[[Australian Idol]]'' grand final at the Sydney Opera House, on 25 November 2007, although their performance of "Boys in Town" (also performed by ''Idol'' winner [[Natalie Gauci]]) had to be repeated after [[Network Ten]]'s transmission feed was interrupted.<ref>{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Garth |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22820497-5001021,00.html |title=Natalie Gauci wins but Ten loses on Idol |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|location=Sydney |date=25 November 2007}}</ref> A national tour of Australia followed in December 2007 with a touring band featuring Drayton on drums, Jerome Smith on bass, Charlie Owen on guitar and newest member [[Clayton Doley]] on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.divinyls.com.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210143215/http://www.divinyls.com.au/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |title=Official website |publisher=divinyls.com.au |access-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> Amphlett revealed on 7 December 2007 that she had [[multiple sclerosis]] in an interview with [[Richard Wilkins (TV presenter)|Richard Wilkins]] on [[Network Nine]]'s ''[[A Current Affair (Australian TV series)|A Current Affair]]''—nevertheless, she was looking forward to touring with Divinyls.<ref name="MS">{{cite news |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=333482 |title=I have MS, says Aussie rock legend Amphlett |publisher=ninemsn |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226232911/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=333482 |archive-date=26 February 2008 }}</ref> The next day, Divinyls headlined the [[Homebake]] music festival<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/divinyls/2007/12/07/1196812966879.html |title=Divinyls: gig review |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |last=Winterford |first=Brett |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> where Amphlett displayed an emotional fragility when attempting to get the crowd to sing along with her.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/cookin-with-the-femmes/2007/12/09/1197135280458.html |title=Cookin', with the femmes at Homebake |last=Palathingal |first=George |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=9 December 2007 |access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> In August 2009, Amphlett announced that Divinyls were finished and she had a new band in New York.<ref name="Adams">{{cite news | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/chrissy-amphlett-says-the-divinyls-are-finished/story-e6frf7jo-1225766583564 | title = Chrissy Amphlett says The Divinyls are finished | last1 = Adams | first1 = Cameron | newspaper = [[Herald Sun]] | date = 27 August 2009 |access-date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

===2013–present: Death of Amphlett and aborted 2018 reformation===
Aged 53 years, Amphlett died on 21 April 2013 at her home in New York City after a protracted battle with breast cancer since 2010. Amphlett stated that she had been unable to receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy as treatment for the cancer due to her multiple sclerosis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-20/divinyls-singer-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/2304824|title=Divinyls singer diagnosed with breast cancer|date=20 October 2010|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref> Amphlett's cousin [[Little Pattie|Patricia Thompson]] announced the news in an official public statement: "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." In 2014, some of Australia's leading female artists came together to cover "I Touch Myself" to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://itouchmyself.org/|title=#itouchmyselfproject|website=itouchmyself.org|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Herald" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Chrissy Amphlett Dead: Divinyls Singer Dies Aged 53 (PICTURES) |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/22/chrissy-amphlett-dead-divinyls-singer-dies-53-pictures_n_3130156.html|work=The Huffington Post UK |publisher=AOL (UK) Limited |author=Sara C Nelson |date=22 April 2013 |access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, the band performed a one-off show in Perth with [[The Preatures]]' Isabella Manfredi and Jack Moffit joining as guests on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, respectively. McEntee, Grossman and Harvey completed the line-up.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Tom |title=Watch Divinyls Reunite for a One-Off Show with the Preatures' Frontwoman on Vocals |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/watch-divinyls-reunite-one-off-show-preatures-frontwoman-vocals/ |website=Music Feeds |date=17 September 2017 |publisher=Evolve Media |access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref>

In December 2018, McEntee announced he would be reforming the group with new singer Lauren Ruth Ward, ex-Divinyls guitarist Frank Infante and a new rhythm section for an Australian tour, to begin in 2019.<ref name="Reunion">[https://www.therockpit.net/2018/divinyls-reform-for-australia-tour-in-2019/ Divinyls Reform for Australia Tour in 2019]. ''The Rockpit'', 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.</ref> However, this announcement was criticised by Drayton and several fans as an "ultimate disrespect", with Drayton stating that anyone other than Amphlett who fronted the Divinyls should "seek some trustworthy advice".<ref>[https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/divinyls-tour-plans-slammed-as-ultimate-disrespect-to-chrissy-amphlett/news-story/e5b3c028911c1f5d1add7a312faaefae Divinyls Australian Tour 'Ultimate Disrespect' to Chrissy Amphlett]. Nick Bond, ''news.com.au'', 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.</ref> On 6 February 2019, the Australian tour was cancelled.<ref name="Cancelled">{{cite web|first=Tyler|last=Jenke|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/divinyls-cancel-aussie-tour/|title=Divinyls Have Officially Cancelled Their Upcoming Aussie Tour|publisher=thebrag.com|date=6 February 2019|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

In early January 2021, former band drummer Warren McLean died.<ref>{{cite news |last= Lim |first= Eddy |date= 5 January 2021 |title= Machinations, Divinyls drummer Warren McLean dies |url= https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/machinations-divinyls-drummer-warren-mclean-dies-2849064 |work= [[NME]] |access-date= 14 January 2021}}</ref> Original drummer Richard Harvey died on 19 July 2022, his passing announced on social media by his bandmate from [[The Party Boys]] Paul Christie.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/paul.christie.313/posts/pfbid02h3zt9R9hFZKNG3K3MJJKCT3S4nM6L6DiFBC1ENjtZbcH4dTBKKesa6TVx1EouHfyl {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=August 2022}}</ref>

==Band members==
'''Final line-up'''
* [[Chrissy Amphlett]] – lead vocals {{Small|(1980–1996, 2006–2009; died 2013)}}
* [[Mark McEntee]] – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=BFV 41511 |publisher=[[Chrysalis Records]] |title=[[What a Life! (album)|What a Life!]] |type=liner notes |others=Divinyls |year=1985}}</ref> {{Small|(1980–1996, 2006–2009)}}
* Jerome Smith – bass {{Small|(1991–1996, 2006–2009)}}
* [[Charley Drayton]] – drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional guitar, bass<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=74321355342 |publisher=[[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] |others=Divinyls |title=[[Underworld (Divinyls album)|Underworld]] |type=liner notes |year=1996}}</ref> and harmonica<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=2-91397 |others=Divinyls |title=[[Divinyls (album)|Divinyls]] |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] |type=liner notes |year=1990}}</ref> {{Small|(1990–1996, 2006–2009)}}
* [[Clayton Doley]] – keyboards, backing vocals {{Small|(2006–2009)}}
* [[Charlie Owen (musician)|Charlie Owen]] – guitar {{Small|(2006–2009; touring member in 1991)}}

'''Former members'''<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/>
{{div col}}
* Jeremy Paul – bass {{small|(1980–1982)}}
* Richard Harvey – drums {{small|(1980—1985; died 2022)}}
* Bjarne Ohlin – keyboards, guitar,<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=M5 MONKEY 1 |title=[[Monkey Grip (soundtrack)|Music From Monkey Grip]] |publisher=WEA |others=Divinyls |type=liner notes |year=1982}}</ref> backing vocals<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=RML 53029 |others=Divinyls |title=[[Desperate (Divinyls album)|Desperate]] |type=liner notes |publisher=[[Chrysalis Records]] |year=1982}}</ref> {{small|(1980–1986)}}
* [[Richard Grossman (bassist)|Rick Grossman]] – bass {{small|(1982–1987)}}
* J. J. Harris – drums {{small|(1985–1986)}}
* [[Kenny Lyon]] – keyboards {{small|(1987)}}
* Tommy "Mugs" Cain – drums {{small|(1987)}}
* Tim Millikan – bass {{small|(1988–1989)}}
* Warren McLean – drums {{small|(1988; died 2021)}}
* Roger Mason – keyboards {{small|(1988–1990)}}
* [[Tim Powles]] – drums {{small|(1989)}}
* [[Randy Jackson]] – bass {{small|(1990–1991)}}
* [[Benmont Tench]] – keyboards {{small|(1990–1991)}}
{{div col end}}
'''Touring/substitute musicians'''<!-- This list is incomplete: from roughly 1987 onwards there had been little stability in the non-core line-up except for Drayton, few session musicians were used on successive albums or tours until reformation in 2006. -->
{{div col}}
* Ken Firth – bass guitar {{small|(1982)}}
* Matthew Hughes – keyboards, bass guitar {{small|(1987–1988)}}
* [[Frank Infante]] – guitar {{small|(1987)}}
* Jim Hilbun – bass {{small|(1991)}}
* Lee Borkman – keyboards, guitar {{small|(1991)}}
* Mark Meyer – drums {{small|(1991)}}
* Duane Jarvis – guitar {{small|(1988)}}
* Randy Wiggins – guitar {{small|(1993–1995)}}
* Scott Kingman – guitar {{small|(1996)}}
{{div col end}}

==Discography==
{{main|Divinyls discography}}
'''Studio albums:'''
* 1982: ''[[Monkey Grip (soundtrack)|Music from Monkey Grip]]''
* 1983: ''[[Desperate (Divinyls album)|Desperate]]''
* 1985: ''[[What a Life! (album)|What a Life!]]''
* 1988: ''[[Temperamental (Divinyls album)|Temperamental]]''
* 1991: ''[[Divinyls (album)|Divinyls]]''
* 1996: ''[[Underworld (Divinyls album)|Underworld]]''

==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Music Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of [[Australian music]]. They commenced in 1987. Divinyls were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |title=Winners by Award: Hall of Fame |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202052952/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{awards table}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1991|1991]]
| "I Touch Myself"
| [[ARIA Award for Single of the Year|Single of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2006|2006]]
| Divinyls
| [[ARIA Hall of Fame]]
| {{yes2|inductee}}
{{end}}

===Countdown Australian Music Awards===
''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'' was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC-TV]] from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine ''[[TV Week]]''. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">{{Cite web | url = http://www.countdownmemories.com/magazines/pdfs/1987_03.pdf | title = Countdown to the Awards | work = Countdown Magazine |date=March 1987 | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) | format = [[Portable document format]] (PDF) | access-date = 16 December 2010 }}</ref>

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

===MTV Video Music Awards===
Originally beginning as an alternative to the Grammy Awards, the [[MTV Video Music Awards]] were established in the end of the summer of 1984 by [[MTV]]<ref>{{cite web|access-date=23 January 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/arts/television/08mtv.html?ref=arts|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=At the MTV Video Music Awards, a Big Draw, a Punch Line and, Now, a Winner|date=8 September 2008|first=Jon|last=Pareles}} Note: Source used to cite year awards were established.</ref> to celebrate the top music videos of the year.
{{award table}}
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=3|[[1991 MTV Video Music Awards|1991]]
| rowspan=3|"[[I Touch Myself]]"
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3058793/awards|title=Divinyls|publisher=IMDb|access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Group|Best Group Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice|Viewer's Choice]]
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Music|Australia}}
* [[Tony Mott]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Amphlett, Christina; Larry Writer, (November 2005). ''Pleasure and Pain: My Life''. Sydney: Hachette Livre Australia. {{ISBN|0-7336-1959-2}}.
* Stieven-Taylor, Alison, (15 October 2007). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011233229/http://rockpoolpublishing.com.au/books.php?name=rock-chicks Rock chicks : the hottest female rockers from the 1960s to now]''. Sydney : Rockpool Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-921295-06-5}}.

==External links==
* [http://www.myspace.com/officialdivinyls Official MySpace page]
*{{IMDb name|nm3058793|name=Divinyls}}

{{Divinyls}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1980 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Australia]]
[[Category:APRA Award winners]]
[[Category:ARIA Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Australian new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1996]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Sydney]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Virgin Records artists]]
[[Category:Australian pub rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]
[[Category:Australian musical sextets]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]]