Pat Benatar kicked off her latest tour on June 23, and fans have noticed the singer hasn’t included “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” — one of her biggest hits — on her setlist. There’s a reason for that.
Benatar told USA Today, “We have what we call the ‘holy 14,’ songs that if we don’t play them, you’ll give us (a hard time). And we’re not doing ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ and fans are having a heart attack and I’m like, I’m sorry, in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings, I’m not singing it. I tell them, if you want to hear the song, go home and listen to it. (The title) is tongue-in-cheek, but you have to draw the line. I can’t say those words out loud with a smile on my face, I just can’t. I’m not going to go on stage and soapbox – I go to my legislators – but that’s my small contribution to protesting. I’m not going to sing it. Tough.”
USA Today follows up by asking how major events, from mass shootings to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, impact songs she recorded decades prior. Benatar replied, “Well, ‘Invincible‘ is really important. I’m worried, like all of us, about fundamental autonomy rights. This is a slippery slope. It’s not about abortion for me. I’m concerned that people are not paying attention to what this actually means.”
Benatar and husband/writing partner Neil Giraldo are on tour throughout Summer 2022 with a complete list of tour dates available at BenatarGiraldo.com. This Fall will be an eventful one for the longtime married couple, too; Benatar and Giraldo will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November along with fellow artists Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon.