Chrissy Amphlett to rock city lane
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Late Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett’s husband Charley Drayton helps open the new lane. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Source: News Corp Australia
ROCK singer Chrissy Amphlett has been officially immortalised in a CBD laneway.
The grungy dead-end street formally known as Corporation Lane 1639 was unveiled on Wednesday as Amphlett Lane in front of family and friends.
Amphlett’s husband Charley Drayton fought back tears while talking at the opening describing it as “perfection”.
“When I wake up the face I want to see is Chrissy’s and I do,” he said.
Chrissy Amphlett in full flight.
“Have the best time you can here but don’t hurt yourself or anyone else while doing it. Hooray for Amphlett Lane.”
He also called for the Palace Theatre — which the lane backs on to — to reopen saying “we need to save it”.
Amphlett, who died last year aged 53 from breast cancer, started her career in Melbourne in the 1970s and performed at the Palace with her band the Divinyls.
Friends, family and music industry on hand to witness the honour. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said Amphlett was a music icon for “our city, Australia and the world”.
“I think this will become, as the laneways of Melbourne are, a destination for music lovers not just from our city but from our state our nation and the wider world,” Cr Doyle said.
The tribute follows a 6386-name petition given to council, with signatories including music figures Molly Meldrum and Michael Gudinski, actor Noah Taylor and Ms Amphlett’s cousin, singer Patricia “Little Pattie” Amphlett.
Amphlett Lane sits off Little Bourke St between Spring and Exhibition streets and also features a mural by Peter Gouldthorpe.
The new lane joins AC/DC Lane as part of the Love your Laneways initiative.
