I have a bit of a weakness for rock n’ roll autobiographies, not very spiritual I know, but for a quick entertaining read they’re good value. So last week at the airport I was looking for something that didn’t require too much concentration and picked up this book.
Amphlett was lead singer with Australian band the Divinyls during the 1980s. I saw the Divinyls once, during their heyday, at a ZZZ Joint effort at the University of Queensland Refec, around 1983. I was an art college student at the time and I mostly remember a crazy alcohol-fueled night. Amphlett was sexually threatening and seemed slightly mad as she stalked the stage in her school uniform brandishing her trademark fluoro stick. After that I never really thought much about her other than like every other Australian of that era I knew the Divinyls hits Science fiction and All the boys in town etc. Unsurprisingly, she lived the rock n’ roll lifestyle to the best of her ability, drinking, doing drugs and behaving badly for most of the next 20 years.
What really struck me about her story was her uncompromising and self-centred belief in the Divinyls and her own, and lead guitarist and partner Mark McEntee’s, talent. This belief was fatal to anyone that got in the way and ultimately to her own health and sanity. Even today, while acknowledging that some of her behaviour was bad she refuses to apologise for anything ‘ever’. That’s quite a statement. It becomes very clear that driving ambition and passion are not necessarily a positive quality and will not lead to a happy life. Ironically, for a seemingly strong, aggressive female her relationship with the effeminate and cold McEntee was codependent, flawed, painful and from this perspective appears, more than a little sad.
Finally and predictably Chrissy Amphlett succumbed to alcoholism and on Christmas day 1996 she had a semi-religious experience during a drunken meltdown in which she perceived good and evil angels battling for her soul. Apparently the good won out providing the catalyst for her to give up drinking. Subsequently, with the help of AA and her husband, musician Charley Drayton, Amphlett succeeded and has been on the wagon ever since.
When the Divinyls finally stopped playing and touring Amphlett deeply in debt and broken successfully took on the role of Judy Garland in The Boy from Oz. Unbeknownst to her co stars and the public she had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. With typical single minded strength of will she had performed while battling the debilitating symptoms and the psychological impact of the diagnosis. Amphlett is a survivor if nothing else.
I think what I find most shocking is that despite the havoc that was wrought on her life and those around her by ‘rock n’ roll’ Amphlett is still enamoured by the culture, but I guess she knows little else. These days she appears to be more than comfortable playing the part of legendary rock chick with the classic shaggy and eye-obscuring hair do and subscribes to the view that her contribution to Australian rock culture makes it all worth it. I can’t say I admire Chrissy Amphlett, her story is one of excess and misplaced determination and a case study in what complete subscription to this life style can do. However, she is very, very honest in telling her life story and that takes courage.
Is there a rock n’ roll story where the protagonist isn’t driven, addicted and finally has their dark night of the soul? Young wannabes take note! Buuut it’s an entertaining read if you’re looking for something to kill a few hours!
Take a look at this excerpt from an interview with Andrew Denton.