Between a Heart and a Rock Place, by Pat Benatar (Review and GIVEAWAY!)

4.5 STARS!

About the book - 

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.

Watch the trailer for the book -

My review - I grew up listening to Pat Benatar. Her first single (Heartbreaker) was out before I finished High school. I bought my first Pat Benatar Album (Crimes of Passion) when I was just 19! I played it so much I am surprised the needle on my stereo didn't wear through to the other side. I knew all the words to all the songs (probably still do).  I am proud to say, I still own that Album! 

This was a real treat for me to read this wonderful book. It is a real "behind the scenes" look at the making of a rock band. But that's not all it is. It is also the love story between Pat and Neil "Spyder" Giraldo. How he came to play with the band, how they fell in love, broke up and got back together, and eventually got married and had two daughters, who are GORGEOUS by the way! It tells how the record company fought their marriage and how she had to hide her first pregnancy, because pregnant wasn't sexy.

But it doesn't stop there - it is also about all the sexism that went on in the 70's and 80's in the record industry. Pat shares her inside story of how it was to be a female rocker in a man's world.

"And Women? They weren't equals, they weren't rock stars, they weren't players. Women were girlfriends or groupies.
Early on, I saw a lot of these rules for what they were: bulls**t."

Pat Benatar is a Hero in the female rock industry, a strong woman who stood up to the "boys club" and finally got heard, and boy was she heard!

"Over the past 31 yrs. I have been a singer, a lover, a businesswoman, a daughter, a friend, a wife, a mother, and yes, sometimes even a Rockstar. In my journey I tried my best to honor all of these things. In the end, I suppose that's all that's really required."

Giveaway -

Yes! I am giving away my copy of this book. It is a hard cover book with lots of full color pictures.

*To enter please comment here (with your email address!) or email me - forevereading at gmail dot com

*Please only US and Canada

*Winner will be chosen and announced on  March 7th.

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In your comments please share with me your Pat Benatar story.