Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar Artistfacts

  • Jan. 10, 1953
  • She was born Patricia Andrzejewski, renamed Benatar after a brief marriage with a GI named Dennis Benatar.
  • As a teenager, she was training for the Juilliard School of Music. That is, until she rebelled. She never attended.
  • Jobs before rock stardom for Benatar include bank clerk and singing waitress.
  • Her first five albums all went Platinum, as did her first live album, Live From Earth. These were all issued from 1979-1984 when she was on a furious schedule of touring and recording. She slowed down in 1985 after giving birth to her first daughter, Haley. Her second daughter, Hana, was born in 1994.
  • Her creative and romantic partner is Neil Giraldo, a guitarist who played in Rick Derringer's band before producer Mike Chapman teamed him with Benatar. They hit it off right away, and in 1982 they got married in Hana, Maui. When Benatar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, it was with Giraldo.
  • Benatar got her big break at the Catch A Rising Star club in New York City in the mid-'70s. It's a comedy club, but they would let musicians take the stage between acts and on amateur nights, so Benatar hung out there and performed when she could. The club owner was impressed and gave her regular slots. Eventually, she got the attention of Chrysalis Records, which signed her to a contract.
  • She's a huge Led Zeppelin fan, and often closed her shows with a reggae version of "Stairway To Heaven."
  • Benatar was one of the few American artists to make music videos before MTV. When the network launched in 1981, the second video they played (after "Video Killed The Radio Star") was her "You Better Run."

    Benatar was also a rare female rocker on MTV, which was dominated by European pop bands like Human League and American acts like REO Speedwagon. Her videos for "Promises In The Dark," "Love Is A Battlefield," and "Shadows Of The Night" all went in hot rotation.
  • She won the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal every year from 1980-1983, winning for Crimes Of Passion, "Fire And Ice," "Shadows Of The Night" and "Love Is A Battlefield." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 12

  • Yvette M from TexasPat has been my favorite since 1980. I love that she is still doing concerts. My son saw her in LA recently. Promises in the Dark is my favorite. Pat can rock out any song, or do it in a reggae form, even if it were a Led Zepplin one! Keep on rockin' beautiful lady!!
  • Paul W from OhioPat sings with strong meaning and emotion. Neil and Pat make a perfect couple and I wish that I had the musical skills and personality that Neil has. Linda Rondstat ranks high on the list as well for the same reasons. Remember “You’re no good?” It’s a great song with plenty of meaning. I’m sure many of us have been the victor or victim in this one.
  • Kenneth from Miami FloridaI'm gonna have to agree with "Tom from Doesn't Matter, ct) on this one, Stairway to Heaven done Reggae, sacrilege! It not only isn't that kind of song (Upbeat or steal drums) but, nobody should even try to cover the song, it is perfect and can not be any better!!! And that goes for them Zeppelin sound alike guys Greta Van Fleet. They are good and sound way eerily like Led Zeppelin but hey, dont do it! Everyone knows you sound like them, have talent to, just don't (and I'm begging you) cover any Led Zeppelin song, it'll be at best, redundant. You can't replicate perfection so don't even try.
  • Jenifer from Brooklyn, NyAugust 11th is "PAt Benatar Day" in Lindenhurst, LI.
  • Jenifer from Brooklyn, NyPat Benatar was raised in Lindenhurst, but born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
  • Joe from Regina, SkI think the movie that you are looking for with a poor girl playing tennis is "Spring Fever from 1982" I can not find a copy any where to watch it, but know this is it. if you find it let me know.
  • Cindy from Burton, NbI am also looking to find out the name of the movie about a poor girl that went to a rich club to play tennis.
    Anyone know?
    Cindy, Canada
  • Frank from Lindenhurst, Ny Pat Benatar lived in lindenhurst
  • Tom from Dosen't Matter, CtIt might just be me, but I don't think it's possible to create a reggae version of Stairway to heaven
  • Ashley Jade from Cleveland, Ga"You're having a giraffe!" means that you're not serious, you're kidding me, something like that. It means Tom can't believe that
  • Kiki from Detorit, MiSomeone please help meeeeee!!! I'm trying to find out the name of a movie about a poor girl that went to this rich club to play tennis....The song hit me with ur best shot was in this movie...if u know where I can find what movies this song was in pleaseeeeeeee let me know Ty
  • Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandA reggae version of 'Stairway...'? You're having a giraffe!
see more comments

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