Pat Benatar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pat Benatar
Benatar performing in 1981
Background information
Birth name	Patricia Mae Andrzejewski
Born	(1953-01-10) January 10, 1953 (age 72) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Rock hard rock pop rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Chrysalis CMC International Bel Chiasso

Patricia Mae Giraldo, known professionally as Pat Benatar, is a famous American singer and songwriter. She was born on January 10, 1953. Pat Benatar has sold over 36 million albums around the world. She has won four Grammy Awards for her music. In November 2022, she was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pat Benatar's first album, In the Heat of the Night, came out in 1979. It became very popular, especially in Canada. Two well-known songs from this album were "Heartbreaker" and "We Live for Love." Her lead guitarist and future husband, Neil Giraldo, wrote "We Live for Love."

Her second album, Crimes of Passion (1980), was even more successful. It became one of her most popular works. The song "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" from this album became a top 10 hit. Many people still think of it as her signature song.

Her third album, Precious Time (1981), was also a big hit. It reached number one on the US album charts. The song "Fire and Ice" from this album was very popular. Her next album, Get Nervous (1982), included the hit song "Shadows of the Night."

In 1983, Pat Benatar's music style started to change. It became more pop-like. The song "Love Is a Battlefield" (1983) became her biggest hit in many countries. It reached number one in places like the Netherlands and Australia. This song came from her live album, Live from Earth. In 1984, she released Tropico. Its main song, "We Belong", was another top 10 hit.

Her 1985 album, Seven the Hard Way, had two rock songs: "Invincible" and "... as a Weapon." Both were top 10 hits in North America. Her album Wide Awake in Dreamland (1988) was very popular in Canada, Australia, and the UK. The rock song "All Fired Up" was a big hit from this album. She released four more albums between 1991 and 2003.

Pat Benatar's Early Life

Pat Benatar was born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953. She was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City. Her mother, Mildred, was a beautician, and her father, Andrew, worked with metal. Her family later moved to Lindenhurst, New York.

She loved theater and started taking voice lessons. At age eight, she sang her first solo song. In high school, she was in musical plays. She even played Queen Guinevere in a school play called Camelot.

Pat Benatar trained to be a special kind of singer called a coloratura. She planned to go to the Juilliard School, a famous music school. But she decided to study health education instead at Stony Brook University. At 19, she left college to marry her high school boyfriend, Dennis Benatar. She worked as a bank teller for a while.

Pat Benatar's Music Career

Starting Her Career

Pat Benatar decided to become a singer after seeing a Liza Minnelli concert. She started singing at a Holiday Inn and then became a singing waitress at a nightclub. There, she formed a duo with a pianist. This group grew into a ten-person band called Coxon's Army.

In May 1975, Pat and Dennis Benatar moved to New York. Pat wanted to focus on her singing. She performed at an amateur night at a comedy club called Catch a Rising Star. The club owner, Rick Newman, became her manager. She performed there regularly for three years.

A special night for her was Halloween in 1977. She dressed up as a character from a movie and went onstage at Catch a Rising Star in her costume. This helped create her famous stage look. She also sang in commercials for Pepsi-Cola. In 1978, she signed with Chrysalis Records. Soon after, she and Dennis divorced, but she kept his last name.

Big Hits and Awards (1981-1983)

In July 1981, Pat Benatar released her third album, Precious Time. It was her first album to reach number one in the US. It was also very popular in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The song "Fire and Ice" was a big hit. It helped her win her second Grammy Award for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance."

Her album Get Nervous came out in 1982. The song "Shadows of the Night" was a hit with a popular music video. This album was also very successful and earned her a third Grammy Award. The music video for "Shadows of the Night" was set in World War II and featured actors like Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton.

By 1983, Pat Benatar was known for singing about strong topics. One of her biggest songs, "Love Is a Battlefield", came out in December 1983. Her music style became a mix of pop and rock. The music video for "Love Is a Battlefield" was very popular on MTV. It even had a group dance scene like Michael Jackson's "Beat It" video. This song was a huge success. It reached number one in many countries and earned her a fourth Grammy Award.

"Love Is a Battlefield" was one of two new songs on her live album, Live from Earth. This album was recorded during her 'Get Nervous' world tour. It was very popular in Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands.

New Sounds and More Success (1984-1988)

In August 1984, Pat Benatar released her fifth album, Tropico. The song "We Belong" was a slow pop song that became another top 10 hit. Pat and Neil Giraldo said this album was when they started trying new, softer music styles.

In 1985, she released her sixth album, Seven the Hard Way. The rock song "Invincible" was a top 10 hit. It was also the theme song for the movie The Legend of Billie Jean. Another song from the album, "... as a Weapon", also did well. Pat Benatar later said that Seven the Hard Way cost a lot to make but sold the least.

In July 1988, Pat Benatar released her seventh album, Wide Awake in Dreamland. This album was more successful than her previous one. The song "All Fired Up" was a big hit, especially in Australia.

Later Albums (1991-2003)

True Love (1991) was a jump blues album. It featured the blues band Roomful of Blues. The album sold well even without much radio play.

Gravity's Rainbow (1993) was a return to her rock sound. The song "Everybody Lay Down" was popular on rock radio stations. This was her last album with Chrysalis Records.

She released Innamorata in 1997. Her most recent album of new songs is Go, released in 2003. This album included a song called "Christmas in America" to help charity after 9/11. The song "Go!" became a favorite for her concerts.

Recent Years (2013-Present)

In November 2015, Pat Benatar released a holiday song called "One December Night." In 2017, she released "Shine" to support the Women's March. Later that year, she released "Dancing Through the Wreckage" for a documentary soundtrack. This song became popular on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.

In 2020, she was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was nominated again in 2022 and was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in May 2022. In July 2022, she announced she would stop performing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" out of respect for victims of recent mass shootings.

Pat Benatar's Personal Life

Benatar with her husband and lead guitarist, Neil Giraldo, 2009

Pat Benatar married her high school boyfriend, Dennis Benatar, in 1972. They divorced in 1979. She then married her second husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo, in 1982. They have two daughters and live in Malibu, California. Their daughters, Haley and Hana, have appeared on reality TV shows.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are both Roman Catholic. They got married in Hana, Hawaii, just before the Grammy Awards in 1982.

Pat Benatar's Tours

Pat Benatar has been on many tours throughout her career. She has toured to support her albums and has also joined other famous bands on tour.

• 1979–1980: Toured for In the Heat of the Night and Crimes of Passion
• 1981: Precious Time Tour
• 1982–1983: Get Nervous Tour, which led to the Live from Earth album
• 1985–1986: Seven the Hard Way Tour
• 1988: Wide Awake in Dreamland Tour
• 1991: True Love Tour with Hall and Oates
• 1993: Gravity's Rainbow Tour (shortened due to pregnancy)
• 1995: Can't Stop Rockin' Tour with Fleetwood Mac and REO Speedwagon
• 1996: Hits Tour
• 1997: Toured with the Steve Miller Band
• 1998: Innamorata Tour
• 1999: Synchronistic Wanderings 20th Anniversary Tour
• 2000: PB2000 Tour
• 2001–2002: Summer Vacation Tour
• 2003: I Won't Go Tour
• 2004: Let's Go Tour
• 2005: Almost II Tour
• 2006: Polyamnesia Off the Rock Tour
• 2007: Summarized Tour
• 2008: Fired Up! Tour
• 2009: Call Me Invincible Tour with Blondie
• 2010: Love on the Run Tour with REO Speedwagon; also toured Australia with The Bangles
• 2011: The Elements of Five Tour
• 2012: Toured with Loverboy and Journey
• 2013: New Zealand tour; North American tour with Cheap Trick
• 2014: Dressed to Kill Tour with Cher; 35th Anniversary tour
• 2015: 35th Anniversary tour continued (canceled due to Neil Giraldo's eye surgery)
• 2016: We Live For Love Tour with Melissa Etheridge. She donated ticket money from certain states to help change anti-LGBT laws.
• 2017: Let's Go Tour
• 2018: Almost II Tour
• 2019: 40th Anniversary Tour
• 2021–2022: De Novo Tour
• 2023: Summer Carnival (supporting Pink)
• 2023: De Novo Tour
• 2024: Funtastic '24 Tour

Pat Benatar's Memoir

In June 2010, Pat Benatar released her book, Between a Heart and a Rock Place. In the book, she talks about challenges with her record company. She also shared her belief in equal rights for women. The book became a New York Times bestseller.

Pat Benatar's Band Members

Benatar and Giraldo, October 2010

Even though she is a solo artist, Pat Benatar has worked with the same band members for most of her career.

• Neil "Spyder" Giraldo is the lead guitarist. He has played on all of Pat Benatar's albums. He also writes many songs.
• Myron Grombacher was the drummer on many of her albums. He also helped write songs. You can often see him in her music videos.
• Charlie Giordano played keyboards on several albums. He later joined the E Street Band.
• Roger Capps was the first bass player for her first five albums. He helped write the song "Hell Is For Children."
• Scott St. Clair Sheets (Scott Sheets) was an original member of the band. He played guitar on her first three albums. He also wrote "Prisoner of Love" and helped write "Fire and Ice."
• Mick Mahan is the band's current bass player. He has played with Pat Benatar since 1995.

Pat Benatar's Appearances in Movies and TV

• Pat Benatar acted in the film Union City (1980).
• She played a character named Zephyr in a rock musical called The Zinger.
• Pat Benatar has been on many TV shows, usually as herself. She appeared with her husband, Neil Giraldo, in an episode of Charmed. She also sang on Dharma & Greg and appeared on That 80's Show.
• In 2003, Pat Benatar and her music were featured on CMT Crossroads. She performed with country singer Martina McBride.
• In 2014, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo performed for the Tiny Desk Concerts series. They played some of their classic songs.

Pat Benatar's Awards and Nominations

Pat Benatar's Albums

• In the Heat of the Night (1979)
• Crimes of Passion (1980)
• Precious Time (1981)
• Get Nervous (1982)
• Live from Earth (1983)
• Tropico (1984)
• Seven the Hard Way (1985)
• Wide Awake in Dreamland (1988)
• True Love (1991)
• Gravity's Rainbow (1993)
• Innamorata (1997)
• Go (2003)

Images for kids

• 

  Benatar performing in Sydney, October 2010

See Also

In Spanish: Pat Benatar para niños