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Originally Posted by TheWildHeart67
Pat Benatar definitely was a trailblazer. She burst onto the scene with her debut platinum album in 1979 and followed that up with many more platinum albums. She was one of the only artists female or male that could get a top 10 album and pack arenas without even having a top 10 single as she's only had four top 10 singles, her songs were basically played majorly by rock radio. She opened the doors for many many rock and roll females. To say that Pat benatar wasn't groundbreaking, is just naive. She was pure arena Rock! She definitely needs to be inducted. Along with Stevie, Pat was one the biggest female Rock stars of the 80's. As for Kate Bush, she was hugely popular in Europe and critically acclaimed in the United States, but her sales impact here was so minimal I don't think Kate Bush belongs in the Hall of Fame.
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You used the correct word "trailblazer." Pat Benatar has achieved things no other rock female has done. During the peak of her career, she recorded a live album during her sold out world "Get Nervous" tour (1982). The live album went platinum and charted #13 on Billboard. I don't believe any female artist, let alone female rock artist ever recorded a live album let alone have that great success with a live album. Also, the tour was so successful that it was recorded for a HBO special and later released on VHS. Just a few months later, she would win a Grammy for best female rock artist.
People get their feelings hurt and bring their personal preferences into who should get into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. I never owned any Benatar music until about 20 years ago, I bought a "best of" CD. In the early/mid 80s, I despised her. I felt her success prevented Stevie from getting recognized at music award shows. As a teen, I had a shrine to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie on my bedroom wall. I would take clippings from Hit Parade magazine that claimed Pat "The Queen of Rock" and post those words over a Stevie Nicks photo. She ruled the female rock/pop charts for half a decade. She is someone who I would think would have gotten in within the first year or two.
There should be a standard to get in. Just because someone is your personal favorite is not enough. They should have to be a trailblazer, successful in touring or music, and even a crossover of different kinds of music. Benatar is every one of those things. Benatar has 4 Grammys for best female rock performance. Over her career, she was nominated 8 times, winning half the time.
Its true that Pat does not have the loyal fan base as Stevie or other artists. But that has no bearing on her achievements. I remember when I lived in West Palm Beach in 1998. Stevie was touring with Enchanted and still in the limelight of The Dance. After dismal showings at Street Angel, Stevie was once again filling arenas and concert halls. Pat was touring too and she was announced at some local club. I was shocked. The show got cancelled too. I was not attending the concert but was so surprised she would play such a small venue.