Australian rock singer Chrissy Amphlett dies at 53

Rock singer Chrissy Amphlett, who fronted the Australian group the Divinyls best known for the worldwide hit "I Touch Myself", has died in New York at the age of 53 after battling breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Her husband and former Divinyls drummer Charley Drayton said Amphlett died in her sleep, surrounded by close friends and family.

"Chrissy's light burns so very brightly," Drayton said in a statement posted on the Australian Recording Industry Association's (ARIA) website.

"Hers was a life of passion and creativity; she always lived it to the fullest. With her force of character and vocal strength she paved the way for strong, sexy, outspoken women."

Amphlett, who founded the Divinyls in 1980 in Sydney, was best known for her performances as a pouting, brash singer in her signature school uniform with fishnet stockings.

The Divinyls recorded five studio albums between 1982 and 1996 when they split up. The 1991 hit "I Touch Myself" the band's biggest hit, climbing the charts in both Britain and the United States as well as Australia.

Last month Amphlett was named as one of Australia's top 10 singers of all time.

"Chrissy expressed hope that her worldwide hit "I Touch Myself" would be utilized to remind all women to perform annual breast examinations," said Drayton.

Amphlett also acted on stage and in film, and starred alongside Oscar winner Russell Crowe in the Australian production of the musical "Blood Brothers" in 1988, playing the mother of Crowe's character.

In 2007, Amphlett said she had multiple sclerosis (MS) and in 2010 announced she was also fighting breast cancer.

"Unfortunately the last 18 months have been a real challenge for me, having breast cancer and MS and all the new places that will take you," she wrote on Facebook in March 2012.

"My illnesses have really exhausted this little body of mine that I have thrown from one end of a stage to another and performed thousands of shows."

Crowe led the tributes to Amphlett on Twitter.

"Dear Chrissie, the last time I saw you was in the Botanic Gardens, loving life and reciting verse. That's how I'll remember you, your boy, R," wrote Crowe.

There were actually 2 hits: Boys In Town wasn't as big as I Touch Myself, but it was a hit.

Almost one year ago, Australian rock legend Chrissy Amphlett, of the infamous band The Divinyls, passed away following her battle with breast cancer at the age of 53. Chrissy was passionate about spreading awareness around the importance of early detection of breast cancer and wanted her song ‘I Touch Myself’ to become an anthem for women’s health around the world. As a tribute, Chrissy’s family & friends, Cancer Council NSW and marketing communications agency JWT Sydney have come together to turn her divine dream into reality by launching the I Touch Myself Project.

On the 14th April 2014, a music video will be launched featuring leading female artists – Olivia Newton John, Megan Washington, Sarah McLeod, Katie Noonan, Sarah Blasko, Suze DeMarchi, Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, Little Pattie and Connie Mitchell – in a tender rendition of Chrissy’s song. Marking the first anniversary of Chrissy’s passing on 21st April 2014, the campaign will ask women to ‘touch themselves’, reminding them to get to know the look and feel of their breasts. Through the combined support of the female vocalists and celebrity ambassadors including Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and RocWiz’s Julia Zemiro, the campaign is set to become a media and social media circuit-breaker.

Chrissy’s husband Charley Drayton is passionate about making sure Chrissy’s legacy lives on to help women better detect breast cancer: ‘Chrissy voiced it clearly – she wished for all women to be mindful of themselves when they heard the tune; to be good to themselves, inside and out.’

Kathy Chapman, Director of Cancer Programs, Cancer Council NSW said, ‘We know that by the age of 85, one in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, detecting breast cancer early is the most important factor in beating this disease. Through this campaign we are encouraging women to get to know their breasts better, to know what is normal for them and to participate in breast screening if they’re in the right age range. At different ages there are various steps women can take to help detect breast cancer early, however at any age if women have any concerns they should contact their doctor’.

The I Touch Myself Project will share Chrissy’s worldwide hit song of the same name as a way of reminding women to be in touch with their bodies and, if something’s not right, see their doctor.

The campaign is supported by a website: itouchmyself.org; and a social media campaign that encourages people to share how they’ve been touched by breast cancer using the hashtag #itouchmyselfproject on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Google+.