“This is really important for everyone to know,” Benatar says. (In fact, she hasn’t released an original album since 2003 despite having “hundreds of songs written,” she tells me.) In addition to her long-awaited Rock Hall induction, an honor she shared with her creative and romantic partner of over 40 years, Neil Giraldo, the duo premiered their first musical, Invincible, which reinterprets Romeo and Juliet through their work. November was a prolific month for the singer-songwriter - even for someone whose career has been blessed with the beauty of longevity. They made me wait 20 years.” I’d say this retort was Benatar in a nutshell, but she demolished that shell decades ago - stomping down the bullshit and the boys’ club with her leonine armor. When I told Benatar about this omission, having been present at that celebratory evening to worship her presence, she flashed a smile and couldn’t help but laugh. What gives? Well, it was cut along with a blazing performance of “All Fired Up” that preceded the remarks. There’s a line - a quick but salient one - that Pat Benatar began her speech with at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction: “I want to say that all is forgiven.” But if you watched the HBO broadcast of the ceremony, you wouldn’t have been privy to these eight words. Photo-Illustration: Vulture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
