New Memoir by Pat Benatar
I just read Pat Benatar’s memoir, Between A Heart and a Rock Place
this past weekend. Full disclosure I’m a fan of hers, love her music, grew up with her in the 80′s, saw her in concert twice and I loved this book.
It is a well written book that flows seamlessly through her life and rock and roll career. I was surprised to learn about her personal life, her priority being a mother first and a singer second. As she says in her book you won’t find a scandal about her and she hasn’t had to do the rehab thing either. Not too many entertainers (from the 80′s or today) can say that!
Reading about her relationship and collaboration with her husband Neil “Spyder” Giraldo was refreshing and enlightening to learn how much he has contributed to her (their) success and how they really have put their marriage and family first.
I hear entertainers say all the time that “it’s a business” and Pat Benatar explains what that meant in her world, with contracts, record companies and agents. Oh yea and scummy Radio Station Managers. She definitely fought a few battles regarding being treated with respect and overcoming the mysogony and sexist that was put on her by those in the record industry.
It was fun to read about what the behind the scenes story was of each album, tour and music video. Most of us can name the first video played on MTV when it went on the air on August 1, 1981: ”Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles MTV Video. Did you know that “You Better Run” by Pat Benatar - MTV Video was the second video played on MTV?
She talks about how MTV changed the music world and the notoriety of singers and bands because their videos were being played constantly. Does MTV even play music videos anymore?
I have seen her perform live twice and one of those times was on a New Year’s Eve in Southern California at a small venue and I remember that her daughters came out on stage to say hello to the crowd and goodnight to their parents.
My other favorite memory of Pat Benatar and her music is that when I was in college, every morning as I would head out the door of my apartment and head up to campus I would put on my Walkman earphones (definitely pre iPod and MP3 player days) and crank up the volume and play the song “Shadows Of the Night” . I lived fairly close to campus and my goal was to walk fast and up the hill to arrive before the song ended. Still love that song today, in fact I just played it again while writing this post.
Definitely good times and memories.
Thank you Pat Benatar for the great music and memories of the 80′s!
Blessings to all of us,
Sabrina Weston
P.S. Have a favorite song or memory of Pat Benatar? Please leave a comment I’d love to read about it.
