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Pat Benatar headlining North Central’s Homecoming celebration

Vocalist Pat Benatar will rock North Central College’s Sesquicentennial Homecoming weekend with a Nov. 10 performance in the college’s Wentz Concert Hall.

Benatar will perform with guitarist and husband Neil Giraldo at 8 p.m. Nov. 10 in the college’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

Tickets are $125 and $100; call the North Central College Box Office at (630) 637-SHOW or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. Benatar is a classically and theatrically trained vocalist who began breaking gender rules and blazed a new trail for female rock stars when her career broke through during the 1980s. With hits like #147;Heartbreaker,#148; #147;Love is a Battlefield,#148; #147;Hit Me with Your Best Shot#148; and #147;We Belong,#148; Benatar paved the way for not only her generation of music, but future generations.As with many young performers in New York, Benatar began her career performing small gigs on Broadway and at local open mic nights. As she began to mold her new image of female empowerment and independence, Benatar signed to Chrysalis Records, where she met Giraldo, a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and producer. Giraldo previously worked with several Midwest-based groups and was a member of Rick Derringer#146;s band, but the instant chemistry and rapport with Benatar foreshadowed their achievements to come. Together, the pair began releasing a string of successful albums, including the debut platinum release #147;In the Heat of the Night#148; and the quadruple platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning #147;Crimes of Passion.#148; Following the gold album #147;Seven The Hard Way#148; in 1984, Benatar took time off to become a mother. Benatar and Giraldo became dedicated parents to their two daughters and carried that dedication into their work as well.Benatar and Giraldo opened their private vaults in 1999 and compiled an extensive three-CD collection, #147;Synchronistic Wanderings: Recorded Anthology 1979-1999,#148; which spans Benatar#146;s entire career and contained rare photos and previously unreleased material. Benatar recently released her autobiography, #147;Between a Heart and a Rock Place,#148; a memoir in which she discusses her life, rock #145;n#146; roll and how her generation changed music forever. Giraldo has been working on music scores for multiple feature films.Benatar#146;s performance replaces a Bernadette Peters concert originally scheduled for Nov. 10.North Central College#146;s yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration commemorates the 150th anniversary of the first day of classes on Nov. 11, 1861, and the college#146;s role in helping to shape the fabric of the Naperville community. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/150 to learn more. Benatar#146;s performance is part of a Homecoming Week Sesquicentennial Celebration Nov. 10-13 that includes reunions, a parade, football game and much more. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/alumni/homecoming to learn more.North Central College#146;s 2011-2012 Sesquicentennial Fine Performing Arts Season is supported by a generous grant from the Illinois Arts Council. USG Corporation and Navistar, Inc. are underwriting sponsors. This performance is one of many ongoing programs at North Central College to enrich and broaden the cultural and academic outlook for the college and community. North Central offers a variety of venues accommodating a rich range of local and world-class events, performances and space needs for the public. For a comprehensive schedule of musical performances, theatrical productions, art exhibits and lectures, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show or call the box office at (630) 637-SHOW.

If you go

What: Pat Benatar concert

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 10

Why: North Central College Homecoming

Where: Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville

Tickets: $125 and $100

Info: (630) 637-SHOW or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix