Rest in peace, Chrissy Amphlett. The lead singer of Australian rock group Divinyls — famous for their 1991 smash "I Touch Myself" — died at home in New York City on Sunday, April 21, the Associated Press reports. At just 53 years old, the redheaded musician "succumbed to the effects of breast cancer and multiple scleroris," her musician husband Charley Drayton explained in a statement.
Amphlett formed the band in 1980, and they went on to record six albums from 1982 to 1996; "I Touch Myself" became a number one hit in Australia and a top five hit in both the U.S. and in Britain.
Revealing her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2007, Amphlett was diagnosed with breast cancer three years later.
"My illnesses have really exhausted this little body of mine that I have thrown from one end of the stage to another and performed thousands of shows that sadly some of you missed," the singer wrote via Facebook back in 2012. "With that said I am getting stronger but there is still some fine tuning and work to be done on myself."
Fellow Australian star Russell Crowe paid tribute to Amphlett via Twitter on Sunday. "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."
