Divinyls were an Australian rock band that were formed in Sydney in 1980. The band primarily consisted of vocalist Chrissy Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. Amphlett garnered widespread attention for performing on stage in a school uniform and fishnet stockings, and she often used an illuminated neon tube as a prop for displaying aggression towards both band members and the audience. Originally a five-piece, the band underwent numerous line-up changes, with Amphlett and McEntee remaining as core members, before its dissolution in 1996.
Christine Joy Amphlett was an Australian singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the frontwoman of the rock band Divinyls. She was notable for her brash, overtly sexual persona and subversive humour in lyrics, performances and media interviews.
"I Touch Myself" is a song recorded by Australian rock band Divinyls. It was written by the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg along with Christine Amphlett and Mark McEntee of the Divinyls. It was released in November 1990 by Virgin as the lead single from the band's fourth album, Divinyls (1991), and deals with the subjects of eroticism and female masturbation. The single achieved success, reaching No. 1 in Australia and No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In January 2018, Australian network Triple M ranked the song at No. 60 in its list of the "most Australian" songs of all time. In 2023, Billboard magazine ranked it among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".
What a Life! is the second studio album by Australian band Divinyls, released in October 1985 by Chrysalis Records. The album is a genre of rock and new wave songs—written by Divinyls members Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee.
Divinyls is the fourth studio album by Australian band Divinyls, released on 29 January 1991 by Virgin Records. The album was the band's most successful, peaking at number 5 in Australia and number 15 on the US Billboard 200. It also contains the band's biggest-selling single, "I Touch Myself", which reached number one in Australia, number four in the US and number 10 in the UK.
Temperamental is the third album by Australian band Divinyls, released in 1988 by Chrysalis Records. Three singles were lifted from the album – "Back to the Wall", their cover of Syndicate of Sound's "Hey Little Boy" and "Punxsie".
Monkey Grip is a soundtrack to the film of the same name, with songs provided by the Divinyls. The movie is an adaptation by director Ken Cameron of Helen Garner's novel Monkey Grip. The movie had little impact at the box office, taking only A$451,000. The soundtrack was released in May 1982 and peaked at #25 on the Australian Kent Music Report album chart. The soundtrack contains the band's first single, "Boys in Town", as well as "Only Lonely", "Elsie" and "Only You" – all of which are featured on the international version of the Divinyls' first studio album, Desperate. Monkey Grip also features two other songs "Gonna Get You" and "Girlfriends". Christina Amphlett also co-starred in the movie Monkey Grip, playing a temperamental rock singer loosely based on herself, fronting a band played by fellow Divinyls members.
Make You Happy is a compilation album by Australian rock band Divinyls, which was released on 21 October 1997. It consists of material spanning from 1981 to 1993 including the hits "Boys in Town", "Science Fiction", "Pleasure and Pain" and their number-one signature song "I Touch Myself". The album's name comes from "I'll Make You Happy", the B-side of "Science Fiction" and a cover version of the 1960s track by The Easybeats. Track 20, "Love in Motion", is a 1992 rerecording of Icehouse's 1981 single with Divinyls' Christina Amphlett featuring on co-lead vocals.
Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands: Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Hoodoo Gurus' status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame induction in a row; the 2006 award was for his stint with Divinyls. Often referred to as Rick Grossman, he has also performed with other Australian bands: Matt Finish, Ghostwriters, Persian Rugs, The Kelly Gang and Men at Work.
Mark McEntee is an Australian musician, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the Australian rock band, Divinyls.
Australian Made was a festival concert series held during 1986–1987 in the six state capitals of Australia and featured local rock acts Mental as Anything, I'm Talking, The Triffids, The Saints, Divinyls, Models, INXS and even Jimmy Barnes. The series started in Hobart on 26 December 1986 and concluded in Sydney on 26 January 1987. Rock journalist Jeff Jenkins rated it as one of his 50 most significant events in Australian music history, "It wasn't a huge success, but it showed that an all-Australian festival could work." Australian Made was conceived to counter tours of international acts, like Dire Straits' 1985–1986 world tour, which were drying up funds for Australian groups. As from October 2010, the following artists have been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame: INXS and The Saints, Barnes, Divinyls (2006), The Triffids (2008), Mental As Anything (2009), and Models (2010).
"Science Fiction" is a song by Australian rock/new wave group Divinyls, which was the lead single from their first studio album Desperate. Released in December 1982, "Science Fiction", peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The B-side, "I'll Make You Happy" is a cover of The Easybeats 1966 hit.
"Boys in Town" is the debut single by Australian rock band Divinyls, released in 1981. The song was written in 1979 and was used on the soundtrack of the 1982 film Monkey Grip, along with several other Divinyls tracks written and recorded for the film, including the single's b-side "Only You". "Boys in Town" was also included on the international version of the Divinyls 1983 debut studio album, Desperate. The song became a success in Australia, entering the singles chart top ten and peaking at number eight.
"Back to the Wall" is a song by Australian rock group Divinyls. Released in February 1988 as the lead single from their third studio album Temperamental, the song made the top forty on the Australian singles chart.
"Siren (Never Let You Go)" (a.k.a. "Siren") is a rock song by Australian band Divinyls. It was released in 1983 from their debut album Desperate and charted within the top fifty in Australia.
"Good Die Young" is a song by Australian rock band Divinyls, released in July 1984 as the lead single the band's second studio album What a Life! and proved to be a moderate success in Australia.
"Sleeping Beauty" is a song by Australian rock band Divinyls. It was released in December 1985 as the fourth single from their second studio album What a Life!. The song proved to be a minor success in Australia when it peaked at number fifty.
"I'm on Your Side" is a ballad performed by Australian rock duo Divinyls. It was released 9 September 1991 as the fourth and final single from their self-titled album, Divinyls (1991).
"In My Life" is rock song by Australian band Divinyls. It was released in November 1984 as the second single from their second studio album What a Life! and charted within the top fifty on the Australian singles chart, peaking at number forty-seven.
"Don't Wanna Do This" is a song by Australian rock duo Divinyls. It was released in 2007 as their comeback single after an eleven-year-long hiatus, during which they unofficially disbanded.
