How well do you know Pat Benatar?
It's been a long time since she hit the top of the charts with killer singles like "Treat Me Right" and "Hell is for Children," but Pat Benatar is still cranking out the live shows with gusto. The pint-sized star turns 55 years old today.
Though her last big hit -- "Sex as a Weapon" -- came way back in '85, Benatar continued her recording career through the 90s. These days, she lives a slightly quieter and more comfortable life -- on a farm in Hawaii with her husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo. However, she launches a short tour of the Northeast and Midwest in April. Hey, what about the rest of the U.S.?
While we wait for a show near us, try this quick Pat Benatar quiz:
1. TRUE OR FALSE: Pat changed her name from Patricia Mae Andrzejewski because it was too difficult to spell on show fliers.
2. TRUE OR FALSE: She was discovered as a singer after performing at amateur night at the comedy club Catch A Rising Star.
3. TRUE OR FALSE: Her first big hit was a cover of John Mellencamp's "I Need A Lover."
4. TRUE OR FALSE: Her video for "Shadows of The Night" featured future Fast Times at Ridgemont High stars Sean Penn and Phoebe Cates.
5. TRUE OR FALSE: Her signature "Pat Benatar" wardrobe was actually a Halloween costume she wore on stage as a joke.
Surely real 80s fans will get all these correct. Still need help? Then go way back in time and re-listen to our old Stuck in the 80s podcast on Pat Benatar.
[tbt* photo by Slobodan Juric]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
I'll give it a shot,
1. False, she married Dennis Benatar hence the name.
2. True
3. False, her cover was on the album along with "Heartbreaker" which I believe was her first hit.
4. False. It had Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton in it.
5. True.
How'd I do Mr Spears?
Posted by: Tom | January 10, 2008 at 03:06 PM
You got them all right.
Posted by: Spears | January 10, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Just to be a bit nitpicky, her last big hit was in 1988, All Fired Up, which charted higher than Sex As A Weapon.
Posted by: Kurt's Krap | January 10, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Best present day use of a Pat B. song - "We Belong" at the end of Talladega Nights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj2o7a-DpAo
Posted by: Stephanie Hayes | January 10, 2008 at 04:03 PM
I managed to catch Ms.Benatar and band a few years back at Summerfest (Milwaukee). She sounded as good as ever... it was really a (surprisingly) good show (and, whoa, she looks great :).
Posted by: Edward | January 10, 2008 at 05:05 PM
I highly recommend her last CD, Go. The title track alone is worth picking it up.
Posted by: 80sfan | January 10, 2008 at 08:10 PM
pat who/or should i say who cares,if you like her music you should listen to 101.5 it seems like that is the only thing they play/next to yellow(shrimp boy),prince
Posted by: Jb | January 10, 2008 at 08:29 PM
I agree 80fan. Go is fantastic! She can still rock!
Posted by: david | January 11, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Pat still rocks and she is truly one of a kind! There will never, ever, be another Pat Benatar.
Posted by: Frank K. | January 12, 2008 at 09:10 PM
To JB....if you don't know who Pat Benetar is then maybe you should stick to sites where you could actually impart some useful knowledge. For serious 80's fans, I recommend First Wave on Syrius satellite.
Posted by: NC | January 13, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Way to go jb: 101.5 only plays about 10 different songs. I can't believe that they don't play ANY Springsteen - and he was on the cover of both Newsweek and Time - in the same week - IN THE 80's! I'm not a big fan of Pat's but she comes from my old home town in MD so, way to go!
Posted by: Mary | January 14, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Mary, Springsteen was on the cover of those magazines in 1975. It was when Born to Run was released. The release of that album was signifacant because Bruce's label was going to drop him if that album didn't do well. Good thing for the Boss it was a hit and one of the top ten albums of all time.
Posted by: John | January 14, 2008 at 07:36 PM