In the late 1970s, singer Pat Benatar opened the door for women who rock, and paved the way for today's young artists, such as Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch. Pat became a four-time Grammy Award winner, with several million-selling albums to her credit and hits such as Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Love Is A Battlefield, and Heartbreaker.
Pat Benatar was a teenager when she began performing in the rock clubs of Long Island, New York. Trained as an opera singer, she presented a diverse repertoire of early punk, rock, Euro-Dance and dramatic ballads with an orchestral feel. In the 1980s, Pat became one of the leading stars of the growing music video scene, and a mainstay on the MTV cable television network.
After a six-year absence, one of the most powerful female voices in rock has returned. On her new album Go, Pat collaborates with her husband and long-time guitarist, Neil Giraldo. "Musically, we're still in touch with each other. It's who's cooking dinner tonight that's the problem," Pat says.
Songs on the album explore the topics of love, regret, refusing to be a victim and female empowerment.
Earlier this year, Pat Benatar participated in the VH-1 television special, "Divas Duets," where she shared the stage with Beyonce, Jewel, Lisa Marie Presley and others. Lisa Marie joined Pat for a version of her 1979 hit, Heartbreaker. Backstage, Pat confided that it was the first time she ever performed the song as a duet, and was pleased that Elvis Presley's daughter was able to rock along with her.
For the past few weeks, Pat and her band have been playing at clubs across the U.S. on their Summer Vacation Tour, an annual event for more than 20 years. This month, the Women Who Rock television series will highlight the life story of Pat Benatar, with recent interviews from the singer, along with her husband and bandmate Neil Giraldo. Neil's life and career is the subject of the feature article in the September issue of Vintage Guitar magazine.
