Pat Benatar says she will no longer perform one of her greatest hits, "Hit me with your best shot."
In an interview with USA Today, she says her decision is to protest gun violence.
"I'm sorry, in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings, I'm not singing it. It's tongue-in-cheek, but you have to draw the line," she said.
"I can't say those words out loud with a smile on my face; I just can't."
The news has disappointed her fans who had hoped to hear the song during her current tour.
"I tell them, if you want to hear the song, go home and listen to it,"
"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."
However, Benatar says she hopes they'll be happy hearing her other smash hits, including "Heartbreaker," "Love Is a Battlefield," and "Invincible."
Hit me with your best shot was a huge hit for Benatar in 1980 and includes the line" "Hit me with your best shot, fire away!"
feature image courtesy of Ronald Woan via Flickr
