All Fired Up

The Zoo Crew is spinning the high-energy anthem "All Fired Up" by Pat Benatar from her 1988 album Wide Awake in Dreamland, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This track, a gritty rock classic, has an interesting origin story. Written by Kerryn Tolhurst, formerly of the Australian band The Dingoes, the song was first recorded by his band Rattling Sabres in 1987. Tolhurst shared that the riff came to him after plugging his Gretsch Nashville guitar into a new vintage Marshall amp, with the chorus clicking into place while he was stuck in Melbourne traffic. The song caught the attention of Benatar’s manager when a Mighty Boy label representative played it for a Chrysalis Records A&R person in Los Angeles. Benatar adapted the lyrics to fit her fierce, female perspective, transforming it into a stadium-ready rocker that hit number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in Australia, becoming one of 1988’s biggest hits there. The track’s raw energy made it a perfect opener for her 2009 Houston concert, where, as fan Jesus Herrera from Mexico City noted, it “set the place on fire!”

Another layer of trivia comes from the album’s production. Wide Awake in Dreamland was primarily recorded at Neil Giraldo’s studio, with Benatar, Giraldo, and drummer Myron Grombacher handling most of the songwriting. However, “All Fired Up” stood out as a cover, and its Grammy-nominated success helped the album achieve Gold certification by the RIAA. The song’s driving rhythm and Benatar’s powerful vocals also inspired later artists, with some noting similarities between the video for “Don’t Walk Away” from the same album and Alannah Myles’ 1990 “Black Velvet” video. Fans on platforms like Last.fm continue to celebrate its infectious energy, with the track remaining a staple in Benatar’s live performances.

Pat Benatar’s journey to rock stardom began in Lindenhurst, New York, where she was born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953, to a beautician mother and a sheet-metal worker father of Polish descent. Initially trained in opera, Benatar’s early musical path was far from rock. She performed in school choirs and musicals, showcasing a voice that could handle classical styles. At 19, she dropped out of college, married, and worked as a bank teller in Virginia. A pivotal moment came when friends invited her to a concert, reigniting her passion for music. She began singing cabaret and other styles in New York clubs, but it was her discovery by producer Mike Chapman and guitarist Neil Giraldo that shaped her rock career. Her 1979 debut album, In the Heat of the Night, featuring “Heartbreaker,” established her as a force in rock, blending pop and new wave elements. Benatar’s powerful voice and Giraldo’s guitar prowess led to four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance from 1980 to 1983, cementing her as a trailblazer.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper into Pat Benatar’s world, her official website, benatargiraldo.com, offers news, tour dates, and access to the official fan club. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram for updates on her music and tours with Neil Giraldo. On X, she shares insights and interacts with fans, as seen in posts like one from @RattleH34D in April 2025, which linked to a YouTube video about her iconic ‘80s career. Fans can also connect on community-driven platforms like the Pat Benatar Fan Club on Facebook, where enthusiasts share memories and discuss her music. For more fan content, check out Last.fm, where listeners track and review her songs, keeping the spirit of tracks like “All Fired Up” alive.