A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
The longtime duo is back with a new book and a fresh tour. Between gigs and grandkids, they're proof positive that things can get even better over time.
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Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo aren’t new names to anyone who’s ever cranked up a guitar riff. Ever since Giraldo joined Benatar’s band as lead guitarist back in 1979, this powerhouse duo has been rocking side by side. That’s more than 45 years! With anthems like “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “Love Is a Battlefield” to other chart-topping successes that defined the sound of the ‘80s, they’ve proven time and again that love and rock ‘n’ roll make a killer combo.
Together, the married duo has racked up four consecutive Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award and well-deserved spots in both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. With 19 Top 40 hits and over 36 million records sold, it’s safe to say they’ve more than earned their legendary status.
But don’t think for a second they’re slowing down. Now 72 (Benatar) and 69 (Giraldo), the pair is proof positive that it’s never too late to rock. They’ve been on tour this fall and recently dropped a colorful children’s book inspired by their grandkids, Cash, Lola and Stevie. In an exclusive interview with Reader’s Digest, Benatar and Giraldo give us a backstage pass to their latest projects, as well as share what fuels their creativity and how they’re still, quite literally, hitting us with their best shot.
This video interview took place on Oct. 7, 2025, and has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reader’s Digest: We absolutely love how diverse, colorful and fun your new children’s book, My Grandma and Grandpa Rock!, is. What sparked the idea?
Neil Giraldo: There were a couple of things that happened. Our agent said, “You know, why don’t you?” I’ve been working on two books myself, but I have been doing those for probably 30 years. He keeps telling me that I really need to finish up. Besides that, he said how we should write a children’s book because ‘I don’t have a book to read to my grandchildren.’ I thought, Oh, that’s not a bad idea. We really wanted to have a book where we could put our grandkids in, have illustrations of them and have it so they can read it to us. For people who like the book, they can read that book to their grandchildren and vice versa.
Pat Benatar: Our oldest granddaughter was the one we started the book process with. We started the idea of the book about four years ago. We wrote it very quickly. Our oldest granddaughter was only 4 when we started it. She was little, her little sister was maybe 2 years old, and the baby wasn’t born yet. She was the catalyst for it because she started reading in preschool. She’s very smart and curious. She started asking us questions, like: Does Grandma sing on stage? How does she do it? Does Grandpa play guitar?
We were telling her the stories about what kinds of jobs grandparents could have, and different names that people call them, what they look like and everything. That really just started the whole process. It was really a pure moment and just joyful.
Reader’s Digest: What was it like collaborating on a children’s book instead of a song or album?
Neil Giraldo: We shoot ideas back and forth. If you write a song and you co-write a song with somebody, you come up with a part, and you get to show that other person. Then they hit you back with a great idea, and you go, “Oh, I love that.” We were going back and forth.
Pat Benatar: Basically the same. We’re songwriters, so we have a way that we do things. We don’t go into a room together and write. We begin ideas, but we do this separately, and then we bring it together, which is the reason that it works. We give each other tremendous space to get in there and do our own thing each time.
Reader’s Digest: We love the book’s message that anyone can rock. How do you keep rocking in your daily lives as grandparents?
Neil Giraldo: Just by being who we are. We are really grateful musicians. We’re grateful to have the life that we have. The message is supposed to show grandparents that they don’t have to be musicians to rock. We never live in that life. We’re not walking around thinking we’re all that or that we’re celebrities. We want to show that even if your grandma stays home or writes books, everybody rocks.
Pat Benatar: I’m a relentless human. Bad stuff happens. Ugly stuff happens out there. But you just got to keep moving. We’re forward thinkers, and even though I love reminiscing, we really love to move forward. We like to work and have positive attitudes as best we can.
Reader’s Digest: What have your grandkids taught you about life and creativity?
Neil Giraldo: They made us remember that children are so innocent. We always believed that innocence is one of the most beautiful things a child has the right to. I get asked, “Papa, why is that hair weird on your eyebrow? Why does your hair look like that today? How come you’re walking funny?” They remind you to be present because you don’t think of those things.
Pat Benatar: We were those people who wanted children, and we enjoyed every moment of having them. We never worked without them. They came with us whenever we toured. They brought so much life and fun into life. The grandkids are a whole other thing because we aren’t their parents. We don’t have to do the grunt work that we did with our own kids. We were there to enjoy them, have fun and impart to them the things that you learn, in a really different way. With our grandkids, it’s much more relaxed. You get a second chance. That’s the most amazing part. You get to do childhood with little kids all over again, without any of the anxiety, the angst or the worry because someone else is doing that. This is the gift you get for raising their parents.
Reader’s Digest: How would your grandkids describe you in one word?
Neil Giraldo: They think I’m crazy. But you know what? They really like it. It’s a good crazy. Patricia would probably say that’s what she thinks about me too.
Pat Benatar: I’d say very organized and loving. I’m the “We’ve got to get to soccer on time” type of grandma. They would also say that I hug them so much.
Reader’s Digest: You’re about to hit the road again with Bryan Adams. What are you looking forward to about this tour?
Neil Giraldo: Being on the stage and connecting with the people. Most of my life is spent in the studio, writing and producing, which I love. But getting on stage is when I feel young again, connect in the moment and be present. You’re singing the stories, you’re playing the notes and you’re putting an emotion out there that you want others to connect with. You have to give 111% while you’re on that stage, whether you’re in a bad or good mood. The stage is 100% spiritual. I don’t care who’s playing on the stage. I don’t care what the venue is. I don’t care anything about that. I want to be present, honest and hope that people feel the same thing and have a great time.
Pat Benatar: These things are fun for us. We did this with Pink two years ago, and it was really fun. We don’t really play massive venues like this anymore. It’s great because you get to be exposed to a lot more people every single night. Playing is still amazing. It never gets old.
Reader’s Digest: Neil, you’re working on a memoir. What made you feel that now was the right time to tell your story? Pat, how do you feel about his story being told?
Neil Giraldo: When Patricia wrote her memoir, they wanted me to do mine at the same time. They actually wanted us to write one together, because we’ve experienced this life together from the very beginning, but there was a change of direction. I just can’t finish it. I need to finish it. I have a hard time writing a book about myself, because what’s important is the story. It’s really about spirituality, the universe and how consequences are not random. I don’t want it to be like a normal memoir. I want it to be more like a story. I will show you where every note is buried—every song, how we wrote them, how I produced.
Pat Benatar: I’m hoping he finishes it; that’s what I’m hoping. This has been going on forever! We were together from day one. We put that band together. A lot of people don’t really know the backstory. I told the backstory in my memoir, but his perspective about how it all came to be musically is going to be way more in depth than mine was. Mine was more about the relationship and how it got to be. He’s going to give so much insight behind every song, how it was recorded, how it was written and more. He’s not going to hold back anything.
Want more fun tidbits about Benatar and Giraldo? Check out their answers below.
Reader’s Digest: Dogs or cats?
Neil Giraldo: Dogs.
Pat Benatar: Dogs.
Reader’s Digest: Mornings or nights?
Neil Giraldo: Mornings.
Pat Benatar: Nights.
Reader’s Digest: Aisle seat or window?
Neil Giraldo: Oh, geez, aisle.
Pat Benatar: Window seat.
Reader’s Digest: Would you rather travel to the past or future?
Neil Giraldo: Future.
Pat Benatar: Future.
Reader’s Digest: What is your favorite breakfast food?
Neil Giraldo: Scrambled egg whites, chicken breast, and spinach, steamed.
Pat Benatar: Homemade banana bread.
Reader’s Digest: If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
Neil Giraldo: A professional golfer, a spiritual speaker and an astrophysicist.
Pat Benatar: A scientific researcher.
Reader’s Digest: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Neil Giraldo: Don’t let people live inside your head that don’t belong there.
Pat Benatar: Keep doing what you have to do.
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this interview with rock legends Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Reader’s Digest Associate Editor Mariah Thomas tapped her experience as a celebrity interviewer, entertainment writer and editor of more than five years. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
