Why Pat Benatar AND Neil Giraldo Are On The Marquee
Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo are on tour. Not Pat Benatar… Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (pronounced: “jer-al-doe”). I wondered why the change. Why is Neil Giraldo on the marquee?…
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar perform onstage during the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo are on tour. Not Pat Benatar... Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (pronounced: "jer-al-doe"). I wondered why the change. Why is Neil Giraldo on the marquee? No offense to Neil, but we've been listening to Pat Benatar for decades. The albums all say, "Pat Benatar." The tour used to say "Pat Benatar." They did an acoustic tour together with both names on the marquee. I got it on that. It was just the two of them, but now with a full-blown tour, why is Neil a named artist with Pat? Pat answered this question in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning (full interview video below): "Because every song you love and listen to was created by him, a$$h0le."
If I may play devil's advocate for a moment, that's not exactly true. Many of Pat's hits were written by professional songwriters. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was written by Eddie Schwartz. Pat changed the lyrics slightly to make it her own and move the song to a female point of view, but Eddie wrote the song. Pat Benatar, the artist, had tons of people that helped create the songs that we know under the name Pat Benatar.
Do I really need to say "Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo" When I talk About This Tour?
In radio, on a music-intensive format, we always get told to use conservation of speech... How can you get the same point across in the least amount of words? We are told that because "people consume media content differently" these days, we need to get to the point and get out. I don't disagree. I've always thought the music was the star. It is a gift to our audience. I'm in charge of wrapping it. So when I'm talking about the upcoming show, it's extra words. I'm sorry Neil, I'm just being truthful. Plus I'm always worried I'll accidentally same your name wrong. Now that I have been honest to the point of insulting...
Yes, I Think I Do Need To Say "Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo"
If for no other reason, than out of respect for Pat Benatar. I have loved Pat Benatar and her music for decades. In the '80s, Pat Benatar came across like a ton of bricks. This tiny lady was about to throw down with anyone who didn't treat her right. From the interview and all other accounts, these two are still going strong after 40 years together. I love Pat's conviction and her obvious love and respect for Neil Giraldo and their partnership. For 40 years it has been the two of them against the world. Anyone who helped create Pat Benatar's music may have come and gone, but Neil has been there through all of it. Pat says, "He and I did this together from day one." She looks at it as setting the record straight.
To put it into perspective, Here's a picture of Pat and Neil Detroit concert photographer, Tom Weschler took in 1979.
Tom WeschlerPat Benatar and Neil Giraldo '79 - photo by Tom Weschler
The CBS Sunday Morning interview is awesome. Consume this media differently. Watch the whole interview. It was worth the 8 minutes in my opinion. At 6:30 Pat talks about NOT being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and she is a class act about it.
Check out more women we'd like to see in the Rock Hall. As Pat said, "Winning is fun," but Pat hardly needs validation. Neither do these ladies, but we'd still like to see them in a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. Scroll down to check them out.
10 Women Artists Who Have Yet to be Inducted into the Rock Hall
From May 2011 to February 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured an exhibit called "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power." From September 2012 to August 2014, the exhibit traveled around to various museums in the United States. It made its final stop at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. While at that museum, I was given a private tour of the collection of over 70 different performers. These performers ranged from Janis Joplin and Tina Turner to Chrissie Hynde and Stevie Nicks.
The exhibit's artifacts dated back to the 1920s and traveled through to the present day. My tour guide made sure to point out that one "unusual" woman was responsible for the exhibit’s existence. On a visit to the Rock Hall, Cyndi Lauper took a tour of the museum, and she noticed that something was missing. "She very simply said, ‘Where the women at?!," said my tour guide, and that was the impetus for that exhibit.
Frankly, the same question can be posed about the Rock Hall inductees in general.
RELATED: A Salute to the Women Performers in the Rock Hall
Rock Hall's chairman John Sykes has made a point in a number of interviews to point out how the Rock Hall needs to evolve. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sykes said, "...it’s time to take the Hall to 2.0. That means a more diverse board, that means more women, people of color, people who reflect the kind of music that’s now being inducted. We have to look and feel like the artists that come into our Hall. That’s just the natural transition."
Eventually, we’d like to see the ten women artists in the gallery below inducted. They all more than deserve it, and there are plenty of others that still do. Truth be told, this list could be even longer than just ten. Howver, we'll save our extended rambling on this matter for another day.
Cyndi Lauper
Nicholas Hunt/Getty ImagesAs we previously stated, Cyndi Lauper once asked "Where the women at?!" when it came to representation in the Rock Hall Museum. Well, where Cyndi at in the Rock Hall itself? She was finally nominated for the first time in 2023, but Lauper has been ridiculously influential to artists that have followed thanks to many hits like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "Time After Time," "She Bop," "Money Changes Everything," "True Colors" and "I Drove All Night." She's also continued to be a force live to this day. Oh, and she's also managed to dominate the Broadway world by writing the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of 'Kinky Boots.'
The Runaways
Stephen Lovekin/Getty ImagesWhen it comes to influential women in hard rock, The Runaways should always be part of the conversation. A launching pad for Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the band's four studio albums feature some quintessential '70s hard rock jams including "School Days," "I Love Playing with Fire" and, of course, "Cherry Bomb." Their 1977 live album 'Live in Japan' is incredibly underrated, too. For added measure, a Runaways induction would make Jett a double-inductee.
Mary J. Blige
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesThe Queen of Hip Hop Soul became eligible for induction in 2018, but Blige has only been nominated once in 2021, despite providing an important female voice in a very male-dominated genre. She's sold 80 million albums worldwide thanks to the strength of her incredible voice and her ability to uniquely blend R&B and hip hop unlike any artist before or after her on tracks like "Real Love," "Not Gon' Cry," "Family Affair" and "Be Without You." While we're on the topic of genre-blending, Blige is the only artist in history to have won Grammys in R&B, hip hop, pop and gospel categories. If that's not worth considering for a Rock Hall nomination, what is?
Melissa Etheridge
Paul Morigi/Getty ImagesNot enough is really said about how Melissa Etheridge came out as a lesbian in January 1993 only to nine months later release 'Yes I Am,' the album that would be her major breakthrough into the mainstream featuring hits like "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window." Looking back, that's a mind-blowing feat during a time when coming out wasn't always welcome as it is today. Add to the fact that she's consistently put out quality albums for nearly 30 years, has an incredible, easily recognizable voice and writes music that blurs the lines of rock, pop and folk, it's almost shocking she's never even been nominated.
Cher
Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesOkay, now for those about to cry foul on this pick, if Madonna is in the Rock Hall, Cher definitely deserves to be in. With a career that spans six decades, Cher has defied the odds, remains one of the most iconic pop stars of all time, and she's managed to do it with a style and attitude all her own. She's won just about every award imaginable, from Grammys to Oscars to Kennedy Center Honors. Fun fact: She also the only artist ever to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades. Those number ones include "I Got You Babe," "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed," "Dark Lady," "After All," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Believe," "Strong Enough," "Song for the Lonely," "A Different Kind of Love Song," "When the Money's Gone"/"Love One Another," "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" and "Woman's World."
Salt-N-Pepa
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesLet's talk about how much Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella deserve some recognition from the Rock Hall. With the Rock Hall expanding to recognize the hip hop world, they need look no further than this groundbreaking group of MCs that were not afraid to touch controversial topics in their lyrics and helped pave the way for countless women in hip hop. Decades later, many of their singles like "Push it," "Shoop," "Let's Talk About Sex," "Whatta Man" and "None of Your Business" still sound ridiculously fresh.
Diana Ross (Solo work)
ShowBizIreland/Getty ImagesMs. Ross has been eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall for her solo work since 1996. However, she hasn't received one nomination. She was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1988 as a member of The Supremes, but her solo career deserves major props, too!
Bjork
Paul Kane/Getty ImagesBjork has yet to receive a nomination for the Rock Hall, but she's been eligible since 2002. With Kate Bush's inclusion in the 2023 induction class, we're hopeful more women that are a little left of center will find a place in the Rock Hall. Plus, can you imagine the performance Bjork would give at her induction?!
Siouxsie & the Banshees
Ian Gavan/Getty ImagesSpeaking of artists a little left of center, Siouxsie & the Banshees are certainly worthy of induction based on influence alone. Unfortunately, like many of the artists on this list, the band has yet to even be nominated, despite being eligible since 2003.
Alanis Morissette
Sonia Recchia/Getty ImagesSome critics may only think of 'Jagged Little Pill' when it comes to Alanis, but her catalog is vastly underrated. Also, so what if 'Jagged...' was the album that got Alanis inducted?! Sex Pistols are in the Rock Hall, and they only released one album ever!
