HEAVY METAL QUEEN RULES THE AIRWAVES

Pat Benatar’s unexpected popularity at the beginning of 1980 was viewed by some as the beginning of a trend, one that has shifted the stereotyped image of the female rocker from the wispiness of Ronstadt and Nicks to a more hard-driving, heavy metal/ queen bitch type. She and her band have released only one album to date, containing the radio biggies, “Heartbreaker,” “No You Don’t,” and John Cougar’s “I Need A Lover.” Her current touring band consists of guitarist Neil Geraldo, bassist Roger Capps, rhythm guitarist Scott St. ClaireSheets and drummer Myron Grumbacher. The band plans to return to the studio in mid-April to begin work on their next LP. Pat was contacted on the eve of her first British tour.

CREEM: Do you think it’s a little easier right now for a woman to break into the rock ’n’ roll business than it was a few years ago? PAT: I’d say so, definitely. I’m not sure why it was easier for us to, I know now it’s easier for new people to, because of Debbie [Harry] and because we broke through. I think there’ll be a lot more acceptance of women in rock.