Pat Benatar's memoirs Between a Heart and a Rock Place is the story of Pat Benatar and the sexism which runs rampant in the music
industry says music editor, Michael Holloway. |
Pat Benatar Between a Heart and a Rock Place
Born: Patricia Mae Andrzejewski
January 10, 1953
Brooklyn, New York
“Most chick singers say 'If you hurt me, I'll die'...I say, 'if you hurt me, I'll kick your ass.”
~Pat Benatar
She Gave Rock her Best Shot and it Worked
Michael Holloway
One of the most enduring, inspirational music legends and pioneer of women's progressive rock penned her memoirs. Pat Benatar Between A Rock And A Hard Place (out June 15, 2010) blows the lid sky high regarding rampant sexism of the moguls in the music business and gives a scathing account of the struggle women musicians have had to battle to achieve respect, and/or equal right to fame in a 'man's world.'
There is a certain amount of sweetness mixed with Benatar's spice. She speaks of the love she felt for two very special men in her life; her first, husband Dennis Benatar, and song writer Neil Giraldo.
Her Other Loves
Dennis Benatar was her high school sweetheart whom she married in 1972 and divorced in 1979 after his discharge from the army. Benatar's second love was a profound, heavenly union with Giraldo with whom she wrote some of the greatest inspirational songs. Benatar insists there does not necessarily need to be a man's world or a woman's world, but one in which both can harmoniously co-exist. Still, there are bumps along every road, which one must overcome.
Benatar said, "I was allowed to go to symphonies, opera and theater but I couldn't go to clubs. I was singing Puccini and West Side Story but I spent every afternoon after school with my little transistor radio listening to the Rolling Stones..."
Unlike many rock biographies, Benatar's memoirs do not dwell solely on the sordid and often cliche
sex, drugs, and rock and roll theme. In fact, Benatar states, "Mine is one of the only stories that doesn't involve at least one trip to rehab."
Benatar realized it was the clothes that got her attention, thus began her reign as the new Goth/Punk Rocker. 
Pat Benatar's album In the Heat of the Night, she oozed sexuality as she sang onstage. |
Benatar Coming into Her Own
Benatar was
born in Brooklyn, New York in 1953 and her family moved to Lindenhurst, Long Island in 1956. Her rise to success began October 31, 1977 when she arrived late for a gig because of a Halloween party she had attended earlier that night. Rather than change into her usual spandex, Benatar went on stage in her gothic costume from the party, and immediately noticed a change in the crowd.
Benatar said, “I was dressed as a character from this
ridiculous B-movie called Cat-Women Of The Moon. The crowd was always polite, but this time they went out of their minds. It was the same songs, sung the same way, and I thought, 'Oh my god...it's these clothes and this makeup!'"
Benatar had grown up in a strict conservative family and was both shocked and titillated at how her newfound sexuality galvanised the audience. The natural rebelliousness she had outweighed any sense of fear of what her family's attitude might be, and she relished the freedom it brought, made feel she was her own woman. Whereas, she had been brought up on classical and theatrical music. Rock had been taboo in her household, but Benatar loved the forbidden fruit and indulged in her contraband passion.
Things She Couldn't Do
However, Benatar confessed to being dissatisfied with the sexualisation of women as objects, saying how she wished women musicians could be taken seriously without having to tart it up, or alternatively how one could make it in a man's world without losing her very womanhood. There had to be some sort of balance. What started as a means of achieving independence became a double-edged sword.
For example, when Benatar's eldest daughter was born in 1985, she was essentially forbidden to talk about the baby for fear it would detract from her rock vixen image.
She also had to fight to give her husband Neil Giraldo songwriting credits because the record label feared she would weaken her status as a powerhouse if she was seen to be needing a man to write her songs with.
Taking a Page from Frank, She did it her Way
Still, Benatar's strength as a musician comes from her determination to live her life and forge her legacy on her own terms, and if people have a problem with that, they can stay the hell out of her damn way.
As one book reviewer states, "Benatar takes you on an incredible detailed musical journey with constant battles with an abusive record company, her honesty and ideology is straightforward and cuts to the bone. No, Benatar does not have a crazy tale of booze and drugs, but one of seriously standing up for herself.
The book also is a fascinating and beautiful love story between her and her husband/collaborator. Fans will definitely love every page of this book. In my opinion, this is a REALLY good read for anyone. You get a close-up look at a fascinating and beautiful tale of a woman who not only changed music, but stayed true to herself, kept her amazing vocal talent intact, and is an absolutely beautiful and inspiring human being."
Benatar says, "My upbringing, and the values and ideals I learned back in my hometown kept me grounded. I never forget that a small town girl from Lindenhurst actually got the chance to live her dreams.”
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