Hoodoo Gurus frontman Dave Faulkner has paid tribute to Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls who passed away today after a battle with breast cancer.
Chrissy Amphlett, Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Hoodoo Gurus bass player Rick Grossmann was a one-time member of Divinyls, spending five-years in the band from 1982-1987.
Grossman featured on the two Divinyls albums ‘Desperate’ (1983) and ‘What A Life’ (1985) and played on the hits ‘Science Fiction’, ‘Pleasure and Pain’, ‘I’ll Make You Happy’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’.
In a post, Faulkner said:
“We are very sad to announce the passing of Chrissy Amphlett today (a few hours ago) after a long illness.
“Chrissie has left an enormous musical and personal legacy and she will be greatly missed around the world, but personally by Rick Grossman who has always been close to Chrissie, beginning with their musical collaboration in The Divinyls. That working partnership grew into an even stronger friendship that has only deepened over the years and Rick has been in constant contact with Chrissie and her devoted partner Charlie throughout their terrible ordeal.
“As for myself, I was lucky to get to work with Chrissie briefly when she sang lead vocals on a song that I helped write for the Antenna album. It is a source of great pride to me that Chrissie would often sing our song many times over the years whenever she performed solo. Chrissie also joined us onstage on a couple of memorable occasions for an off-the-cuff version of The Easybeats classic ‘I’ll Make You Happy’, a song that she put her own unique stamp on when she recorded it with The Divinyls.
“Singer, actor, friend, Chrissie’s larger than life personality could never be constrained by the professional limitations other people may have tried to put on her. She was sassy, funny, gorgeous, brilliant and mercurial but always endearing and one of the most compelling performers Australia has ever produced.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say we will always love her.
“Our thoughts are for the many friends and family struggling with the reality of Chrissie’s passing, particularly for Charlie who has lost his soul mate and the love of his life. Chrissie’s painful struggle is over but Charlie’s continues. We wish him love”.
Dave Faulkner
Earlier: Iva Davies pays tribute to Chrissy Amphlett
