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 Divinyls frontwoman CHRISSIE AMPHLETT has commanded Australian audiences for three decades. She released her autobiography in 2005 and manages a daily struggle with MS – and both are evidence that the woman is as tough as nails. This intimidates YUMI SED, albeit briefly.
I must admit I am a little nervous at the beginning of the interview, after all this is Chrissie Amphlett – hard-ass first lady of Australian rock – although I needn’t have been. The woman I meet is warm and downright delightful and while much of our conversation is “off the record”, (sorry folks I gave my word); Amphlett still has a lot to say about her life and music in general.
It is evening for Amphlett and she is at home. “Home is New York,” Amphlett says and goes on to explain. “It wasn’t really New York I chose, but my husband. The reason why I’m here is that I like hanging out with him; I followed my heart.”
Her heart has been on the line since the 2005 release of her autobiography Pleasure & Pain. “When I was approached by the publisher initially I couldn’t imagine an autobiography about my life,” she says. “When I felt that I had a higher purpose for the book I picked up the writing of it a lot easier. I just updated the book with another chapter … I talk about my MS and life in New York. I am a little tired now of being in that story, I’m glad I’ve finished with that chapter now and I feel I can move on. I wanted to be honest and I wanted to also repair relationships and talk about what it takes and how much drive you need to make it.”
Once Amphlett mentions her MS I feel comfortable asking her how her health is. (She revealed in 2007 that she had been suffering from MS since the late ‘80s). “Maintaining, I’m positive and hopeful. There’s new drugs coming out all of the time … five years ago it wasn’t as positive, there’s always new research so I guess we hope,” she says. “I’ve tried everything, I really have. I talk about in the book how I run around and try everything. I think you can either be overwhelmed or complacent and people cope in different ways.”
Amphlett is heading home to tour as part of the Australian Rock Symphony tour with Diesel and Baby Animals. She mentions that the last time she was in Australia was to do Boy From Oz and she’s worried we may have thought she’d gone soft. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been rehearsing a show here and this came up and I thought it would be perfect,” she says. “I haven’t sung with an orchestra since I was a little punkette and I would turn up to orchestra practice in ripped pyjamas. I remember I used to love sitting there in my ripped clothes making eyes at the timpani player. It’s great to travel with a 30-piece orchestra while still having a really strong rhythm section because rhythm is really important to me. So it’s not all just light on top, or rather, one still is able to grind one’s hips.”
The AUSTRALIAN ROCK SYMPHONY TOUR – featuring CHRISSIE AMPHLETT, Diesel, Baby Animals and a 30-piece orchestra – will be at QPAC on Saturday Jan 23. Tickets from www.qtix.com.au. www.chrissieamphlett.com
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