Thursday, April 25, 2013

Video Of The Week: Divinyls

Holy shit - Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett died this week, at age 53, of breast cancer! She couldn't undergo radiation therapy because of her concurring multiple sclerosis.

She fronted her band with bigger balls than many of her male contemporaries, and it's for that reason that I didn't go with the obvious singles (I Touch Myself and Make Out Alright) and instead opted to feature their cover of The Troggs' Wild Thing for the soundtrack to Reckless Kelly, in which Yahoo Serious is pretty much dressed like Lara Croft.

Other known versions of Wild Thing include those by Jimi Hendrix, The Runaways, Sam Kinison (who butchered it and turned its meaning around), X, Cheap Trick, Hank Williams Jr, and Liz Phair, and it is most often used as a b-side or soundtrack cut.

It's a shame I couldn't find a better-looking version of the video, but as with many overlooked great bands deemed ''one hit wonders'' by the general public, this important Australian band (they may not be on AC/DC's or the Bee Gees' level, but are definitely worthy of mention alongside or ahead of Split Enz, Crowded House, and Hunters & Collectors - far ahead of Air Supply, Men At Work and Silverchair) stopped being supported by their American labels - yet they kept making hits in Australia - and their web presence is thus almost mute.

When she wasn't playing in her band or on stage in a musical, Amphlett wrote songs for other strong-willed singers such as Chrissie Hynde and Cyndi Lauper.



I'll have to feature I Touch Myself someday just to touch upon the huge controversy surrounding that song but, again, I felt it was too obvious for this week's choice. Soon, though, I promise.

No comments: