Between a Heart and a Rock Place: A Memoir

by Pat Benatar, Patsi Bale Cox

For more than thirty years, Pat Benatar has been one of the most iconic women in rock music, with songs like "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," and "Love Is a Battlefield" becoming anthems for multiple generations of fans. Now, in this intimate and uncompromising memoir, one of the bestselling female rock artists of all time shares the story of her extraordinary career, telling the truth about her life, her struggles, and how she won things—her way.

From her early days in the New York club scene of the 1970s to headlining sold-out arena tours, Benatar offers a fascinating account of a life spent behind the microphone. As the first female artist ever to be played on MTV, she speaks candidly about the realities of breaking into the boys' club of rock and roll at a time when people everywhere still believed a woman's only place in popular music was as a girlfriend, a groupie, or a sex symbol. And though her fiery edge and aggressive swagger produced instant success, they also led to fights over her image that would linger for years to come.

Going backstage and into the studio, Benatar sets the record straight about how her music evolved, illustrating the visionary role that her guitarist, producer, and eventual husband, Neil "Spyder" Giraldo, played in combining her classically trained voice with razor-sharp guitar to create her unique hard-rock sound. Together they formed a musical and spiritual bond that would last a lifetime, helping her stay true to herself while avoiding the pitfalls and excesses of rock stardom.

Written with the attitude and defiance that embodies Pat Benatar's music, Between a Heart and a Rock Place is a rock-and-roll story unlike any other, a remarkable tale of playing by your own rules, even if that means breaking a few of theirs.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Celebrity

247 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2010

About the author

Patricia Mae Andrzejewski (born January 10, 1953), known professionally as Pat Benatar, is an American singer-songwriter and four-time Grammy Award winner. She is a mezzo-soprano. She has had considerable commercial success, particularly in the United States and Canada. During the 1980s, Benatar had two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, three RIAA-certified Gold albums, 17 Billboard chartings and 15 of them being Top 40 singles, including the Top 10 hits, "Hit Me with Your Best Shot", "Love Is a Battlefield", "We Belong" and "Invincible". Other popular singles include "Heartbreaker", "Treat Me Right", "Fire and Ice", "Promises in the Dark", "Shadows of the Night", and "All Fired Up". Benatar was one of the most heavily played artists in the early days of MTV. She was the first female artist to play on MTV, performing "You Better Run".

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lynx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singer-Songwriter. Business Woman. Rock ’n’ Roll Icon. Feminist. Trailblazer. Wife & Mother. Put all that together (and then some!) and you have this weeks muse, the incredible Pat Benatar!

Growing up Pat dreamed of being part of a dynamic rock ’n’ roll duo. Jagger & Richards, Plant & Page, she may have had the vocal chops but to make it to Rocks greatest heights she knew she needed a phenomenal guitarist by her side. It was while working on her first album, In the Heat of the Night, that Pat was introduced to Neil (Spyder) Giraldo. In Pat’s words “From he moment he stepped into the room our lives changed- first musically and later romantically and spiritually. Without Neil my career would not have happened, because I am not responsible for it, we are responsible for it, all of it. We were each others Muse.”

Together they worked hard to build a musical career that has spanned nearly 40 years and through it all Pat fought hard on the front lines battling sexism in an industry that had not yet seen a woman climb to such rock ’n’ roll heights. So thanks Pat, for all the bitchin’ tunes and making it a little easier for us girls trying to pave our own path in this rock ’n’ roll world!

I recently discussed Pat and Neil and their rockin' relationship on my podcast Muses & Stuff. Click the link or look us up on iTunes!

[Steven Walle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read. Pat Benatar talks of her life in and out of the rock and roll life style. Pat managed to be a Wife to the same man, Neil Garado, for thirtyone years, a Mother of two daughters, and still bring us faboulas music from her albums, Heart Breaker, in the heat of the night, Crimes of passion, Precious time, Get nervous, Live from earth, seven the hard way, Wide awake at dream land, true love a blues album, gravity's rainbow, In and Go.
I recommend this to all. She also managed to stay away from the drugs which are so prevalent in the music business.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond

[Mahlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat Benatar is one of Rock's iconic female artists, but her road to the top was never easy. In her new autobiography, she opens up about the obstacles she faced and the roadblocks people put in her way. Benatar relates the constant battles she waged against the sexism that was rampant in the industry, and how she had to fight for creative control of her music, all while trying to balance the schedule of a constantly touring musician with a marriage and motherhood. It helped that Pat's husband guitarist Neil "Spyder" Giraldo is also a member of the band. At it's core "Between a Heart and a Rock Place" is really Pat and Spyder's musical journey together, and love for each other. Pat uses the book to give Spyder long overdue credit for his influence over the band's sound as well as the production of their recordings. Through it all, Benatar has managed to remain grounded and maintain her sense of humor, qualities that really shine through in the book. Even people who know nothing about Pat Benatar the musician will be a fan of Pat Benatar the person by the time they finish this book.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiography of Pat Benatar.

I am a fan of Pat Benatar's and went to one of her concerts back in the 80's. One of my favorite concerts that I have been to. The story tells of her childhood in New York and how much of a "tomboy" she was and how her talent was "discovered". Her music training and so on. Then on to how she broke into the business. She spoke about every album made and her successes and failures. And the love of her life, Neil "Spyder" Giraldo.

I loved reading of her successes and admire her greatly for her accomplishments. I felt that the book concentrated heavily on her career and less on her personal life. That's okay. I understand the need to keep your private life private and she does give us a small look into that part. I really admired how she kept giving "Spyder" the recognition she felt he deserved.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure I have to admit that I am a huge fan of Pat Benatar. I've been to dozens of her concerts, I have all her albums (some in LP and CD format), I have all of her videos and many old interviews and performances on tape or on DVD. I have even met her (and she and Neil are really as nice and down to earth as they come across in the book). Suffice to say that I have waited for this book for a long time.

I became a fan in the mid 80's so I was actually really starting to enjoy her music as her popularity started to decline, as far as radio airplay and album promotion was concerned. I think the first concert I attended was the Wide Awake in Dreamland tour. After reading the book I see that I was lucky to have caught it at all. It is a shame her later albums never caught on as much as they should have, at least outside her massive fan base.

I found the first and last sections of the book most interesting because those were the periods of her life that I knew the least about. Her difficulties with the record label throughout her career have already been well documented and you don't learn much more about her life at the height of her popularity than you could have gotten from VH-1's "Behind the Music". Unfortunately, most of the book covers that portion of her life. I would have liked the book to include more discussion about her music and about her later career. The chapter where she discusses the 9-11 attacks was particularly insightful and emotional and, to be honest, the book could have benefited from more stories as strong as that one.

If you are looking for a "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" memoir look elsewhere. If you're looking for insight into a woman who fought to do things her way in a man's profession and to be dedicated to her family at the same time, then this is the book to read.

[Lennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this memoir, Pat Benatar describes her 31-year career in the music industry. As part of the eighties rock movement she made strides for women by being one of the first solo female rockers. She had pure, clean vocals but her music was intense, hard-edged and guitar-driven which made the sound seem like it had attitude and aggression. It was pretty powerful and as a result she won four Grammys and sold millions of records. While this book addresses Benatar’s achievements as a professional singer and rock star, it’s not really a story about rock and roll but rather how one person can find the strength to persevere when faced with adversity. Such as the case when she discovered that the music business was still very much a man’s world and that they held all the power so she had to fight to make music the way she wanted to on her own terms. For her, a sexy image was never the focal point; she was all about the music so she led a rock and roll life following her passion and made no apologies.

Every time I hear a Pat Benatar song on the radio such as “Heartbreaker” or “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, it always brings me back to my teenage years in the eighties. She was and always will be one of my favorite singers and I still enjoy attending her concerts whenever she happens to be here in Southern California playing at some venue. Since I’m a long-time fan, it was a real treat for me to read her memoir. She’s a great role-model for young women in the way that she stands up for herself and demands respect. I’m glad that she is still rockin’ after all these years!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Pat Benatar is a rad lady and I've been looking forward to this one. I'm hoping that I'll come away from it thinking she's even radder than I already do. I'm only 20 pages in, so maybe it's too soon to say but so far it's kind of boring. It seems she's pretty much always had her head screwed on, had a good childhood, never abused substances...where will the drama come from?

UPDATE: Finished. Some of the writing was weak, some of it heavy-handed and hackneyed. For example, on 9/11: "It was one of those moments in everyone's life where you never forget where you were when it happened, like Pearl Harbor or Kennedy's assassination, pivotal moments in history that impact your life forever." (Really? I've never heard that one before.)

I recognize how important her partner "Spyder" was to her life and career, but frankly the name "Spyder" makes me bristle and there was a bit too much praise lavished upon him for my tastes. BUT, this lady broke a lot of ground. She was a "rocker"(I'd never use that word, but she does a lot) chick in a rocker dude's world. As such, she dealt with even more BS than women in rock deal with today, which I understand is still a hell of a lot. She made her mistakes but came out fighting and won.

There are no rock 'n roll cliches here. All the things I thought might make her dull - no trips to rehab or psychiatric institutions, a sense of purpose and a willingness to fight for herself and her art, etc. - are precisely what make her fascinating. Her love of and commitment to family and personal well-being is inspiring. So, yes, I came out thinking Ms Benatar is every bit as rad as I previously thought.

It's an easy read and an enjoyable one, particularly if you fancy yourself a kickass lady. (Also, I'd love to have a tea with her someday.)

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and dusting off my Pat Benatar music to listen to again after many years. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed “her” music, and never realized how much the music was really “theirs”.

I loved her writing voice, her ability to navigate the really tough music industry without needing rehab, her sweet love story, her strength in character to stand up to the good ole boys who wouldn’t give a girl the respect they’d give a guy. I’ve been in a “man’s job” and have been impacted by “the good ole boy network”, but nothing like she described. Good for her. I love that she conquered even more than I realized!

I think my favorite thing about this book is her unwaveringly positive attitude.

...look for me on the highway, singing along with their songs!....

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I was never much of a Pat Benatar fan. I knew only the hits and loved her voice but my tastes tended to run much harder so I blew her off as just another pop artist. As I get older I realize I missed out on her peak years and some of the deeper cuts to her albums that were actually very guitar-oriented and heavy.

This book allowed me to re-imagine and relive the 80's I missed with her band, and it was always a band. Some great inside and stories in this book about the rough times she had due to the record company and her image. Loved it!

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I read this book in tandem with an audio book of Ricky Martin's memoir, Me. Fascinating, unintentional pair. I recommend this pairing for two "Other" perspectives on the commercial music industry.


Things I learned from this book:

Pat Benatar's music label steamrolled her over and over again until her contract expired, forcing albums from her every 9 months, demanding constant touring, micromanaging her image, her romantic relationships, her creative process, and denying her a fair share of the money made on her millions of records. Pat strongly identifies her music as a product of her band, with a lot of credit going to her husband/guitarist, Spyder. When speaking about creative decisions, like almost every song/album/recording/tour, she uses, "we" to refer to the band, not "I" like a solo artist. The image of her as a solo artist is a product of her label's manipulation. Also, her label cheapened her body of work by releasing "best of" comps every year after her contract expired. They owned the music & she had no say. The relationship between PB and her label/management kind of reads like a "what not to do" for a young female artist in the 80s.

Her music video, "You Better Run" was the second video ever shown on MTV. She wore her own clothes, as she usually did. The director was a prick, and she was angry during the whole shoot. That snarl is sincere.

Pat Benatar is a classically trained vocalist, which explains a lot about her music, but she claims that she cannot dance for the life of her. This came as quite a surprise to me. I have spent literally incalculable hours of my life dancing to her music, never mind the time I have spent perfecting her shoulder shimmy dance in the video for Love is a Battlefield. But, knowing this fact now, I have re-watched a lot of her videos and it does seem pretty obvious that fancy footwork is not her forte.

Pat is an outspoken, unabashed, unashamed feminist & has identified as a feminist for her entire life. This isn't really a surprise, considering her body of work and the groundbreaking trajectory of her career, but it is interesting to read her detailing 30+ years of sexism in the music industry, especially when she calls out specific men by name and lists dates that they treated her in an inappropriate manner. But this isn't just about airing dirty laundry - she also provides a thoughtful analysis of why things were the way they were, and how they have changed (a little, but not much). Her career spans from a time when the career advice she got was was "just act sexy" and her music label forced her to hide her first pregnancy so her fans would still think she was sexy, all the way up to her work with her own record label, inspired by Ani DiFranco (really?) and her dates on the Lilith Fair tour.

Pat Benatar really, really loves being a mom and considers her motherhood to be a feminist act. She battled infertility & had to give up on the idea of having kids several times (only to become pregnant after she gave up... twice). She fought her record label tooth & nail for room to be a good, present mother to her daughters.

Pat is really kind of a boring person - no drinking, no drugs, no smoking, no scandalous sexcapades. As a trained singer, she was always very protective of her voice, so she self-selected out of a lot of rockstar behavior. She has also been with the same dude for over thirty years. They're married. They have two kids. She seems like a pretty stable, with-it lady for someone who has so many grammys and millions of records sold. So this book avoids a lot of gossipy, trashy stories by virtue of her relative boringness, but I enjoyed it.

The weirdest, most awkward part was about the show she played the night of September 11, 2001. She struggled with the set list. So many of her songs employ violent/war imagery and she felt it was inappropriate to sing Love is a Battlefield or Hit Me with Your Best Shot. She ended up playing things like All Fired Up and Invincible. She says that she & the audience wept together, and it was therapeutic for all of them. I feel weird that she used Invincible in this context, but I remember the shocked emotions we all struggled with that evening, and maybe it was just a cathartic thing, not a 'Murrica the Great thing. Of course, she did have that whole post-9/11 "Christmas in America" thing.... She's a pop star. Let's move along.

Finally, and perhaps of the most personal importance to me, I learned that Pat Benatar recorded a song called Papa's Roses about Katherine Dunn's book Geek Love, which happens to be my favorite book. The intersection of these two magical forces is my dream come true, even if the song itself is a little emo.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her story was fascinating, loved reading about her background and determination.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pat Benatar is a singer I have always loved, from day one. She was the second act featured on MTV (and talks about that shoot in this book) and paved the way for a lot of the young singers we see today.

She is a surprising mix of good girl/bad girl persona. She readily admits drugs and alcohol never did it for her so she just didn't. She didn't cheat on her marriage (first marriage to Benatar) even though she was madly in love (her words) with her longtime husband Neil Giraldo when she first met him. She came from a loving yet desperately poor family in New York and today she is one of the most well-known "rockers" (again, her word to describe herself) of the 80s.

Some of her biggest hits, like Heartbreaker and You Better Run, were the source of so much angst between her and her record company. Both time she was right and they were misogynistic assholes who simply wanted her to smile and "be sexy" on stage. Her retelling of her relationship with the record company should be required reading for any up and coming musician. They way they basically owned her in her contract (through no fault of her own) was near to slavery. She was unfortunately a product of youth, bad management, and being female. That she succeeded to the level she did was all on her - hard work and sheer talent.

A lot of this book explores her relationship with her guitarist and then husband Neil Giraldo, who she calls Spyder. I'll admit freely that her continuing to call him Spyder got on my nerves. But he seems (at least from her description) to have been all in from day one of meeting her (when she was a nobody) and was instrumental in helping her to develop her sound. She gives him more credit than I felt he deserved, but such is normally the way of a happily married couple. He does seem to have been a great father to their two girls and a good husband to her as well.

Where the book goes a little south for me is the enormous amount of time spent talking about her record label troubles. Perhaps it is instrumental in making her who she is, but I thought that could have been pared down just a little. I found myself skimming a lot of those parts later on. She also raves about Neil and how "without him" she wouldn't be who she is today. Perhaps, but I feel she is giving him way too much credit. She is a phenomenal singer, stage presence, and woman, and I think she is selling herself short.

All in all, Pat Benatar will always be one of the greats during a momentous time in rock history - the 80s. 5 stars for her success, 3 for the book.

[Deb Quist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I say this every time I read a memoir, but it’s always tough writing a review. I always appreciate the fact someone opened up and shared their life.

I do like Pat Banatar’s music and I have seen her in concert, so I did find it interesting to learn about her life and career. I can see where others might not enjoy this, though.

She’s not a typical rock star, there’s not a lot of drama, except for her fights with the record label. Some might find her life boring but I appreciated hearing about how she dealt with the pressures of trying to forge a path for females in the music business.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between a Heart and a Rock Place: A Memoir contains a glimpse of how things worked behind the scenes in the music business. Is it the same now? I have no idea. I did not know that Pat Benatar was the first female artist to be played on MTV. However, I knew that she was the best.

[Len or Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pat Benatar seems like a really down to earth rock star (been with the same man forever, no real scandals, and what seems to be a good work ethic) from what I learned reading this book and I enjoyed reliving her life and career. Probably the most surprising thing in the book is that she performed a concert on 9/11.

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I saw that this was going to be released I had to read it; I made this be my non- fiction novel for the month. I must admit to being a big fan ( I am part of the Benatar Fan Club) and collecting all the cassettes (Just to give you an idea of prices at that time, I think a Slurpee with the collector cups cost $.25). Getting that out of the way, the first thing I did when I cracked the book open was go to the picture area in the middle, I love that part of the non-fiction books. Then I read the cover of the book, here are some stats on Benatar’s accomplishments: Four Grammy Awards and more than twenty three million records sold, nineteen Top 40 singles. Not too shabby.
The novel itself is very insightful and it doesn’t seem if she holds much back. Patsi Bale Cox gets credited with the assist on the novel and the manner in which she narrates her life story is very smooth, clean and provocative. She was and is a force in rock and roll. I thoroughly enjoyed the way she described meeting her husband and partner Neil “ Spider” Giraldo. The connection and the music that they made are amazing. Having seen them in concert recently (I took my wife as an anniversary present), I was totally fascinated at the dynamic the two shared, and the way she describes their relationship only validated what we had witnessed. It was a total partnership and something to see and enjoy. Personally I have always maintained his influence in pop music since they hit the scene. His guitar playing and style are heard today. The novel for me was just not something that gave me insight into one of my favorite musicians but a validation of why I enjoyed them so much. They were and are much more than the music. When the lights go down they have substance and depth, not the shallowness we see in some of our alleged stars.
Between a Heart and a Rock Place is a great title. I was a little thrown off by it at first but it makes much more sense once you go through it. Fortunately now I have the music on my iPod , my cassettes are gone, but the music is timeless. Seeing these partners in concerts is nothing short of awesome. Pat Benatar can still bring it, and Neil Giraldo’s guitar play is as moving as ever. We saw them the last time they were in Red Bank, New Jersey and she said the fans were crazier now than when they were at their height. I was not one of the nuts trying to crash the stage; I had a great view and was content to enjoy and take in every minute of it, just like I did this novel. What is your favorite Benatar hit?
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[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been a fan of Pat Benatar’s music in the 1980s, but I actually knew very little of the woman, except for her marriage to Neil Giraldo. BETWEEN A HEART AND A ROCK PLACE is a very refreshing rock memoir because Pat Benatar actually remembers it all! No endless stories of rehab, of drunken or drug-fuelled shenanigans, but a fabulous account of this brilliant singer’s career. Pat Benatar is your ordinary woman, albeit gorgeous and with a spectacular voice, and she is a woman of integrity who never forgot her blue collar roots and fought, and is still fighting for women in music. She is without false modesty without being pretentious: she knows what she’s got, she knows her strengths and weaknesses.

I loved being able to really have an inside look at the recording process, the song writing process, life on the road. I also had an insider’s look at how poorly women rockers can be treated, and the record company shall not remain nameless: Chrysalis was horrible. I cannot believe what Ms. Benatar endured, it is truly beyond comprehension. It’s a good thing Ms. Benatar is opinionated, because I can hardly imagine how even worse it could have been. Yes, it was an eye-opener.

BETWEEN A HEART AND A ROCK PLACE is very well written, very candid, with great photos, and it kept me up way past my bedtime. It’s a very enlightening book, and very entertaining as well. With all the romance novels around, it would take a rocker to best describe what is love and love at first sight, which Ms. Benatar does astonishingly well. Pat Benatar hit us with her best shot and it was great!

[KrisAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars might be a little generous, but whatever, I use the star ratings in terms of my personal enjoyment and not always quality. The writing's actually pretty good! but some of the music biz stuff--and there is LOTS of it--reads like "I NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MYSELF THOROUGHLY" and won't be of interest to everyone. But she and the band are a pretty classic story of being jerked around by the music biz in the 80s and they've definitely lived through massive music biz revolution, sometimes getting on the train at the right time and sometimes missing it. And when they missed the mark, it was because of their label.

The reason I picked this up is that I was cruising through some Benatar a few years ago, like ya do, and thought "damn, why are there such integral rockin' guitar solos in every Pat Benatar song?" I read her wikipedia entry and was completely charmed to learn that she's been married to her musical partner in crime, guitarist/producer/etc Neil Giraldo, for like a billion years, and that's his guitar voice (and producer ear, often) you hear on all her tracks. Reading about their collaboration honestly made me wish I could find the same type of person in my life--not a romantic partner, but a musical collaborator who has the goods and complementary skills to push me in new and interesting directions. It's a total dream and I don't think people realize how rare it is.

Also now have Love is a Battlefield on a constant loop in my head. There are worse fates.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat has always been one of my favorite singers, and now she’s one of my favorite people. This book was a TREAT. She shares her journey through the music world, from trying to make it in Rock and Roll as a female to the transition to digital music. She is an inspiration. I can’t imagine the strength she had to stick to her beliefs and be the musician that she always wanted to be, to make her family her priority, and be herself. She is a true rock star. I also loved hearing how she met Frank Sinatra (FRANK!), and he called her doll face, or how she crossed paths with the Reagans and The former president thought she was saying “Cat” was her name, Nancy was a doll and corrected him and said Pat, P-A-T. I DIED. Her recounting of 9/11 made me cry.

I hope one day I can see Pat and Neil in concert, it is definitely a bucket list item for me. I love her so much. I loved learning more about her life, how the behind the scenes were in the music industry, especially as a woman in the seventies and eighties, and how they have stayed active in the music industry over the years. Not to mention a peek into how my favorite songs came about. I LOVED IT. (Also did I mention that their label HATED Love is a Battlefield?! What would we do without it!?)

[Andrea Facciponte · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2009 I bought front row tickets to see Pat Benatar with my mother for her birthday. Little did I know I would walk away that night with a new musical role model. I obviously knew the classic songs like "Love is a Battlefield" and "Heartbreaker," but I barely knew anything about Pat Benatar the performer. As a singer and aspiring music business professional, reading Benatar's biography shed a truthful light on what the business is really like behind closed doors. It's sad, but true, that most artists are simply viewed as dollar signs rather than the talented and hardworking people they are. I have only gained more respect for Pat Benatar as an artist as she found a way to keep herself grounded in the crazy world known as the music business. I will never forget how amazing she sang "Hell is for Children" on that stage, and this biography confirmed just how much she holds each song in her heart.

Many reviewers have commented on the writing style of this biography, but I personally viewed it as if Pat was sitting across from you telling her story. It's real and raw, and there is nothing wrong with that.

[Angelique Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet , but full on inspiration.

A quick inspiring read, I'd only wish it was longer. On the kindle the photograph section ,the pictures are tiny and don't enlarge so fans may want the print version of the book.
Pat Benatar does it her own way. A fascinating look at how women were treated by the music industry,and how the rise of the independent musician inspired her to take her music in her own hands and evolve. What makes this important read for up and coming female musicians is a feminist point of view and working well with others from someone who survived the old system intact.

[Elizabeth Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book thinking that it was going to be the usual Rock star sex drugs rock 'n roll story. Well, there was rock! At first I was wondering when the action was going to start, but as I read, I found it really refreshing to read a rock star story that didn't revolve around sex and addiction (side bar: I thoroughly enjoy the ones that do i.e. Slash, The Dirt etc.) I really liked this book. I found myself looking forward to reading it after work. I love her music, I still listen to it regularly, so I really enjoyed getting to know her thru her book.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’ll start out saying I’m a huge fan girl of Pat Benatar and basically all 80s music. This book was an absolute joy and took me a lot longer to read than normal since I wanted to savor every word, but mostly because every time she mentioned a song, I would go to you tube and watch at least the official video and then a live version as well to see Spyder playing. I too enjoy guitar players so I can see why she thought him such a dreamboat. Anyway; she’s a really cool lady and this book was a complete nostalgic walk down memory lane to the 80s where life was simple. Brilliant.

[Robin Warden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love Pat,but not the book. Time would have been better spent listening to her amazing catalog of music. On a positive note (and my humble opinion)the fact that this book was not very interesting can be attributed to the fact that she never got all caught up in the music-making machine of celebrity, she wasn't a party girl, but instead she put out consistently great music while maintaining her priorities of her marriage, kids, and family above all else. So I like her even more knowing that.

[Tarah Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was growing up, Pat Benatar was always one of my favorite singers. Her voice is just amazing and she sounds like no one else. She has been a huge inspiration in regards to my own love for singing, so I was thrilled to start reading her memoir. I love her attitude and she really is just a bad ass chick.

[Seawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, easy to read autobiography. I'm not a particular fan (bit young and British to have caught the music at the time beyond general background/mainstay of classic rock compliations), but it was fascinating to see eg the rise of MTV, Lillith Fair, from her perspective as quite the trailblazer for women in the music business.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this one 4 stars since I'm a huge Pat Benatar fan. OK, so it's not going to win a Nobel Prize, but it was entertaining!

Thanks, Mere, for a great birthday gift!

[J.P. Willson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...

[Dave Donahoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not really certain how this book could have sat on my shelf unread for so long. This is a brave, fearless and honest memoir from one of rock’s great performers. My wife and I are long time fans and there’s nothing better than leaning on the stage watching Spyder play guitar & listening to Pat sing. Their chemistry is unequaled. If you are not a Pat Benatar fan now, you will be after reading this book. The section on performing the night of 9/11 alone is worth the price of admission and it’s just a small part of this woman’s amazing journey. Don’t wait like I did; read this book next!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about Pat Benatar, her career, and the rock industry that she helped change forever. I was not a big fan of the writing, but the information included, her views, and the description of her relationship with Neil Giraldo were definitely worth it. Worth reading. 3.5 stars