By Luke Voogt
East Melbourne tribute rockers Cindy Chin-Quan and Will Cook take method acting to the next level.
The real-life partners play Geelong-born rock goddess Chrissy Amphlett and band-mate and long-time boyfriend McEntee in their cover band Temperamental.
People often asked the couple how they managed it, Cook said.
“You find a way to separate work from life – I actually enjoy working with Cindy to be quite honest.
“We’ve been asked if we want to work for other people. You get me a better singer and we’ll go from there.”
Like Amphlett and McEntee of The Divinyls, Chin-Quan and Cook have been together for 20 years, after meeting at a Ringwood pub gig.
But the similarities end there – the pair enjoys a relatively harmonious relationship compared to the drug and alcohol fuelled violence of Amphlett and McEntee.
“We have the odd fight over direction and creativity, but I couldn’t ask for a better, more supportive partner,” Chin-Quan said.
“I can only imagine what it would have been like for (the Divinyls) in the studio.”
The couple started the tribute act while Chin-Quan was studying a Master of Teaching in Melbourne in 2013.
Previously, she had made a career as a singer-songwriter and guitarist.
“My brother said ‘why don’t you go do the Divinyls – you’d be great at it’,” Chin-Quan said.
“I thought that would be a good way to earn on the money. We basically got some friends in the industry and went from there.”
When you’re doing tributes, you’ve gotta get the best line-up you can get.”
That line-up got them a gig on an Australian pay TV cover band show in 2014.
“For me, it’s more being able to sing at my age,” Chin-Quan said. “I’m no spring chicken.”
Chin-Quan was able to “belt out“ Amplett’s hits despite her diminutive stature, thanks to her upbringing, she said.
“I’ve had to scream over eight older siblings.”
“Maintaining the tone through two hours is extremely hard, but I think I’m doing alright being someone who’s not been a trained singer their whole life.”
Amphlett grew up in Geelong and went to Belmont High School, and Cook said returning to the late-rock icon’s home town had a special meaning for Temperamental.
“This is actually our first show down there when we’re not at a festival.”
Chin-Quan was also looking forward to playing at The Sphinx on 25 March.
“We love coming down there,” she said.
“A lot of the friends she went to school with come to see us – so it’s quite emotional when we go down there.”
When you’ve been doing it for 20 years you sort of understand the journey she’s been on being a female in a male industry.”
