Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo: These Grandparents ROCK!
BY PAT BURNS
“We belong with our grandchildren, and they with us—a bond that bridges years, distance, and differences.”
When rock icons Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo decide to write a children’s book, you know it’s going to be something extraordinary. Their new picture book, My Grandma and Grandpa ROCK!, brings the same energy and heart that have defined their legendary careers—and it’s a story destined to resonate with families everywhere. GRAND Magazine was delighted to sit down with this dynamic duo for our cover feature.
An advance reader copy (ARC) of the book quickly found its way into my hands—and into the eager hands of my seven-year-old great-granddaughter, Rylan. Watching her wide-eyed delight as we read together confirmed what I instantly felt: this book captures the magic of family bonds in a way our readers will treasure.
You don’t have to be an ’80s rock ’n’ roll fan to connect with this story. Pat and Neil’s book celebrate the wide variety of grandparents—rock stars, bakers, yoga teachers, electricians, retirees, and more—each with one thing in common: an unwavering love that bridges generations, celebrates diversity, and shows that in family, as in music, we all belong. That heartfelt theme set the tone for our conversations, which finally took place at the end of July and quickly became one of my all-time favorite interviews.
Speaking with Pat and Neil separately gave me a deeper understanding of each as an individual. What stood out most—alongside their love for their grandchildren—was the deep, abiding love they have for each other. After 40 years of marriage, the admiration and tenderness in the way they spoke about one another was truly remarkable.
Interview with Pat Benatar
GRAND: Welcome, and thank you for taking time for this GRAND Magazine interview. We want to share your heart, your voice, and the incredible role you play—not just as a performer, but as a grandmother, partner, and now children’s book author. Let’s start with My Grandma and Grandpa ROCK!, but we’d also love to learn more about you and Neil as partners in life and work.
Pat Benatar: It’s a long, tight-knit relationship we have. We put the band together in 1979. We were living our best life because we were doing what we had waited all our lives to do. We found each other, made that first record together—he was just turning 23, I was just turning 26. The beauty of the relationship is that we started out as each other’s muse before we were ever romantically involved. We were in love with each other as players first.
“I thought, Girl, you have just seen the father of your children.”
Benatar wrote in her 2010 autobiography Between a Heart and a Rock Place
GRAND: Musicians first?
Pat Benatar: Yes. But the attraction was there. We tried hard not to screw it up. Usually, when bands get romantically involved and the relationship ends, the whole band goes too. We didn’t want that. But it was impossible to resist. Now we’re songwriters together, players together, in the same band, married, lovers, parents, grandparents. He’s my best buddy, and I’m his.
“We started out as each other’s muse before we were ever romantically involved.” — Pat Benatar
GRAND: Where did you meet?
Pat Benarar: I’m from New York, Neil—Spyder—is from Cleveland. He was finishing up playing with Rick Derringer’s band. My record company knew I wanted a partner, not just to be a solo singer. They introduced us, and it was kismet from the first moment.
GRAND: How did your marriage endure in an industry where so few do?
Pat Benatar: We started as each other’s muse, in love as players first, and built from there. We’re completely different personalities—he’s easygoing, I’m not—but it works.
GRAND: Tell me about your family.
Pat Benatar: We have two daughters. Haley, 41, is the mother of our three grandchildren—Stevie (almost 7), Lola (5), and Cash (3). Hannah is 31, a singer-songwriter.
GRAND: What are your grandchildren like?
Pat Benatar: Stevie’s precocious, a 45-year-old in a 7-year-old’s body. Lola’s the empath. Cash is the baby and the only boy—living his best life. They’re just eight minutes away, here all the time.
GRAND: Why make diversity and love the central message of My Grandma and Grandpa ROCK!?
Pat Benatar: Because of the kids. They see us on tour buses and backstage, thinking that’s how all grandparents work. One day Stevie asked if all grandparents go on tour buses. I explained that there are so many kinds of grandparents, and the one thing they all have in common is love for their grandchildren. That conversation became the heart of the book.
Interview with Neil Giraldo
Benatar first met guitarist Neil Giraldo in 1979 when he came to her rehearsal space shortly after she had signed her first record deal. For Benatar, it was love at first sight.
GRAND: Neil, what inspired My Grandma and Grandpa ROCK!?
Neil Giraldo: Patricia and I are avid readers. I loved telling made-up stories to our kids every night—always with turmoil, always ending well. Our agent, Rob Light, suggested a grandparents’ book from musicians’ perspective. We thought it was a great idea.
GRAND: What kind of grandfather are you?
Neil Giraldo: I’m the goofy, fun, game-playing Papa who also teaches little lessons. Stevie even says, “Don’t you know Papa knows everything?”
GRAND: The book celebrates all kinds of grandparents. Why?
Neil Giraldo: Because every grandma and grandpa “rocks” in their own way. The title is about rocking your world—whatever that is.
GRAND: How did writing the book compare to writing music?
Neil Giraldo: Very similar—back-and-forth collaboration, bouncing ideas, refining until it works. Patricia keeps me from getting too far out there.
GRAND: One of my favorite lines is “A song in your heart is where music begins.”
Neil Giraldo: That came from Patricia’s belief that music must come from the heart.
GRAND: What makes you the grandfather you are?
Neil Giraldo: I love children and their innocence. I want them to play music—not necessarily as a career, but because it’s valuable for everyone.
As our conversations came to a close, I was struck by how seamlessly Pat and Neil balance the roles of rock legends, devoted grandparents, and life partners. My Grandma and Grandpa ROCK! isn’t just a playful, colorful picture book—it’s a reflection of who they are: creative, compassionate, and committed to making every moment count with the people they love most.
“That same spirit runs through their lives and work: the belief that we all belong to one another, across generations, backgrounds, and experiences.”
While the interview didn’t concentrate solely on their own grandchildren, it kept circling back to themes of unity, diversity, and love in all its forms. It reminded me of Pat’s hit song We Belong—an anthem about connection and finding common ground. That same spirit runs through their lives and work: the belief that we all belong to one another, across generations, backgrounds, and experiences.
In a world where time moves quickly and generations can sometimes feel worlds apart, Pat and Neil remind us that we belong with our grandchildren, and they with us—a bond that bridges years, distance, and differences. Whether you’re a rock star on stage or a quiet hero in the kitchen, the role you play in your grandchild’s life is unforgettable. Spend even a short time with these two, as I did, and you’ll walk away not only humming a familiar tune, but also feeling the truth of their message—that love, like great music, never fades, and we belong together through it all.
About the Author:
Pat Burns — Author of Grandparents Rock, creator & host of the vodcast Ageless Inspiration, li
teracy champion, and founder of the S.T.E.A.M. Race to Space Reading Challenge inspiring future innovators through STEM
Here are some of Pat and Neil’s most popular albums
Crimes of Passion (1980): A fan favorite, this album featured hits like “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Hell Is for Children”.
Get Nervous (1982): Another highly-voted album, including the hit “Shadows of the Night”
In the Heat of the Night (1979): Her debut album, it was highly rated by fans and critics.
Precious Time (1981): A huge success that included singles such as “Promises in the Dark”.
Tropico (1984): This album featured the hit “We Belong” and was well-received by fans.
Seven the Hard Way (1985): Known for hits like “Sex As a Weapon” and the “Invincible” theme.
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Wide Awake in Dreamland (1988): A popular choice that included the song “All Fired Up”.
