Pat Benatar Inducted Into Rock Hall in 2022, At Last
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar perform onstage during the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 05, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
She had been eligible for most of this century and on Nov. 5 Pat Benatar was at long last inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Joining her in the Class of 2022 was her husband and musical partner, Neil Giraldo. The pair celebrated with a three-song set of classic rock favorites, “All Fired Up,” “Love is a Battlefield” and “Heartbreaker,” at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Watch their performance below.
Afterwards the couple wrote, “What an amazing night! Sharing the stage with so many talented people! An honor we’ll cherish. Blessings abound!”
Benatar, 69 at the time, a classically trained mezzo-soprano, quit her job in 1971 to pursue a singing career. She started out performing in lounges and nightclubs, using open mic and amateur nights to develop her persona and style. In 1979, she was introduced to Giraldo, whose distinctive, distorted guitar playing complemented the clarity and strength of Benatar’s voice.
Their signature sound drove them to the top of the charts with hits like “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “We Belong.” Their achievements include six consecutive platinum albums led by 1980’s Crimes of Passion which sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone. Benatar was a constant presence at the Grammys in the 1980s, winning four awards from her nine nominations. The couple married in 1982.
When her cover of “You Better Run” aired as the second-ever video on MTV, Benatar became the first woman (and Giraldo the first guitarist) to appear on the channel. The band remained in heavy rotation on the network, and cinematic videos like “Love Is a Battlefield” shaped how audiences envisioned rock music and bands led by women. “I was a serious, dedicated, formidably rockin’ lead singer who happened to be a girl,” writes Benatar. “I wanted to make music, but I wanted to do it on my own terms.” Giraldo frequently contributing his talents as a producer.
Watch them perform “Heartbreaker” at their induction (apologies for the sound)
When their selection was announced in May, Benatar, born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski, said, “I’m very excited and pleased that we get to go in together. It’s just really nice for your children, for the legacy, for the fans.”
Added Giraldo, 66, “The greatest thing always is to hear from fans how music changed their lives. That’s the most powerful thing you can ask for.”
Related: Our Album Rewind of 1980’s Crimes of Passion
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationCongratulations, but it will be even better when Jethro Tull arrives at last
A continued heritage of couple’s rock & Roll.
These two make great music.