The Divinyls were a rock band (formed in Sydney) which performed from 1980 to 1997 (although they later re-formed, playing from 2006 to 2009). Their lead singer was Chrissy Amphlett (born Christine Joy Amphlett, in Geelong, Victoria, in 1959).
Several of their albums ranked in the top ten in the album charts, “Desperate” went to #5, “What a Life!” to #4, and “Divinyls” to #5. Their top ranking singles were “Boys in Town” (which reached #8 in 1981), “Science Fiction” (#13, 1982), “Pleasure and Pain” (#11, 1985), and “I Touch Myself” (#1, 1991).
Divinyls – Boys In Town [peaked at #8 in 1981]
(written by Christina Amphlett, Mark McEntee, and Jeremy Paul)
Divinyls – Science Fiction [#13 in 1982]
(written by Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee)
Divinyls – Pleasure and Pain [#11 in 1985]
(written by Michael Chapman and Holly Knight)
Divinyls – I Touch Myself [#1 in 1991]
(written by Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Mark McEntee, and Billy Steinberg)
Divinyls – Back to the Wall
(written by Christina Amphlett and Richard Feldman)
Divinyls – Human on the Inside
(written by Mark McEntee and Shelly Peiken)
Divinyls – I’ll Make You Happy
(written by Harry Vanda and George Young)
Divinyls – I’m on Your Side
(written by Christina Amphlett, Mark McEntee, and David Tickle)
Divinyls – Make Out Alright
(written by Christina Amphlett, Mark McEntee, and Martyn Watson)
Divinyls – Only Lonely
(written by Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee)
Divinyls – Siren
(written by Bjarne Ohlin)
Discography:
Albums: [with peak position in album charts]
1982: Music from Monkey Grip [soundtrack mini-album]
1983: Desperate [#5]
1985: What a Life! [#4]
1988: Temperamental [#11]
1991: Divinyls [#5]
1991: The Essential Divinyls [compilation]
1993: The Collection [compilation]
1994: Divinyls Live
1996: Underworld [#47]
1997: Make You Happy 1981-1993
Singles: [with peak position in singles charts]
Sep. 1981: Boys in Town / Only You [peak position: #8]
Nov. 1982: Science Fiction / I’ll Make You Happy [#13]
Apr. 1983: Siren (Never Let You Go) / Elsie [#45]
Aug. 1983: Casual Encounter / Gonna Get You [#91]
Aug. 1984: Good Die Young / 9:50 [#32]
Nov. 1984: In My Life / Don’t You Go Walking [#47]
Oct. 1985: Pleasure and Pain / What A Life! [#11]
Dec. 1985: Sleeping Beauty / Motion [#50]
May 1986: Heart Telegraph / Guillotine Day [#90]
Mar. 1988: Back to the Wall / Fighting; Out of Time [#33]
July 1988: Hey Little Boy / Para-Dice [#23]
1988: Punxsie / Victoria
Jan. 1991: I Touch Myself / Follow Through [#1]
Apr. 1991: Love School [#43, released on CD]
1991: Make Out Alright / Need a Lover
1991: I’m On Your Side [#92]
Oct. 1992: I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore [#19]
Apr. 1993: Wild Thing [#39]
1993: Love Is the Drug
Mar. 1995: I’m Jealous / Black Magic [#14]
1995: Heart of Steel
1996: Human On the Inside [#59]
1996: Hard On Me [#94]
1997: For a Good Time / Save Me
References and further information:
Chrissy Amphlett with Larry Writer. Pleasure and Pain: My Life, Hachette, 2009 (updated second edition), page 375
Divinyls, Wikipedia (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls discography, Wikipedia (accessed 14 October 2012)
Soundtracks for Monkey Grip (1982), IMDb (Internet Movie Database) (accessed 26 October 2012)
Christina Amphlett, Wikipedia (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls, Howlspace (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls, Australian Rock Database (accessed 14 October 2012)
Encyclopedia entry for ‘Divinyls’ (Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop), Whammo (Worldwide Home of Australian Music and More Online) [Internet Archive] (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls, MySpace (accessed 14 October 2012)
Chrissy Amphlett, MySpace (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls, ChrissieAmphlett.com [fan site] (accessed 14 October 2012)
Divinyls celebration, Back to the Wall [tribute band] (accessed 14 October 2012)
The Institute of Australian Culture
As a kid growing up with the Divinyls. That band was passion. Completely digged it. Thanks so much, you were the Rockest Band. Salute to you brilliant musicians. X ps deepest thoughts go out to you all.