Molly Meldrum is the latest celebrity to join the push for a petition to have a Melbourne laneway named in honour of late Divinyls singer, Chrissy Amphlett.
As News Ltd reports, the Akubra-donning music industry veteran is urging music fans to join the 6,000+ signatures of the petition to honour the fallen singer ahead of it being presented to Melbourne City Council today by Amphlett’s husband Charley Drayton and cousin Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Thompson.
“It would be a fitting tribute,” Meldrum said of the proposed Chrissy Amphlett Laneway. “We’ve already got an AC/DC Lane in Melbourne and Chrissy was another act who learnt the ropes playing in the Melbourne music scene,” he says.
“Chrissy was an amazing artist, coming from Geelong and spending her early days in Melbourne, she opened so many doors for other female performers here and around the world with the huge success of the Divinyls,” remarked Meldrum. “It would be nice to honour that in Melbourne.”
The petition first surfaced in May on crowdsourcing charity page Change.org, urging Melbourne City Council to “please dedicate and name a laneway (or other Melbourne city landmark) for Chrissy Amphlett,” following the tragic news of the Australian female rock icon’s tragic passing. “It would be a fitting tribute… to honour [Chrissy Amphlett] in Melbourne.” – Molly Meldrum
“Chrissy Amphlett loved Melbourne and it would be wonderful for her family, friends and admirers all over the world to have a special space dedicated to her in this famously musical city,” reads the campaign, which was started in London by Astrologer Jessica Adams and quickly gained the support of Baby Animals frontwoman Suze DeMarchi, actor Noah Taylor, as well as support from Divinyls bandmates Rick Grossman and Amphlett’s husband Charley Drayton.
The call for a Chrissy Amphlett Laneway arrives after last Saturday’s tribute concert, where performers Little Pattie, Fiona Lee Maynard & Her Holy Men, Jane Clifton, MC Lucinda Cowden, and more helped raise funds for MS Australia at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne.
News of the iconic Australian singer and Divinyls frontwoman’s passing came in April. The untimely death occurred at her New York home on April 11th 2013, where Amphlett passed away at the age of 53 following complications with her ongoing battle with cancer and multiple sclerosis.
The death of the singer, who was recently ranked among the Top 10 Greatest Australian Singers of All Time in a poll voted on by fellow Aussie singers, also caused a surge in sales of Divinyls records, returning the band’s popular albums and singles to the ARIA Charts in the week following her passing.
The approval of a Chrissy Amphlett Laneway by Melbourne City Council seems likely given the popularity of the 6,000 strong petition. It would also mark the third rock and roll landmark for Melbourne, following AC/DC Lane and the recent addition of the Rowland S. Howard Lane in St Kilda. The honorary laneway to the deceased musician was recently approved by local council following strong support by the community and musicians alike, including a poignant open letter from Howards’ former Birthday Party cohort, Nick Cave.
(Image Credit: Bruce Magilton. Source: News Limited)
