1980 in music

Events

January

January 1 - Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. The only other pop music acts to be created MBEs are the Beatles and Elton John
January 2 - At the age of 45, songwriter Larry Williams is found dead in his Los Angeles, California home of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are never able to determine whether his death was a murder or suicide.
January 13 - The Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Starship perform at a benefit concert at Oakland Coliseum for the people of Kampuchea.
January 16 - Paul McCartney is arrested in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. The remaining part of McCartney's tour had to be canceled.
January 25 - Paul McCartney is released from a Tokyo jail and is kicked out of the country by Japanese authorities.
January - Daniel Amos and Randy Stonehill wrap up the first part of the Amos and Randy Tour in Toronto. Both artists are joined on stage by Larry Norman for an encore. The event makes the news on local television and newspapers.

February

February 8 - David Bowie and his wife of nearly 10 years, Angie, file for divorce. Bowie gets custody of their 9 year old son, Zowie
February 14 - Lou Reed marries Sylvia Morales in New York City's Greenwich Village
February 21 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies in London after choking on his own vomit following an all-night drinking binge.
February 29 - Buddy Holly's trademark glasses and the Big Bopper's wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the Mason City Sheriff. Holly and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crashed on February 3, 1959.

March

March 1 - Patti Smith marries former MC5 member Fred Sonic Smith
March 3 - Sotheby's Auction house in London auctions off a Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas napkin signed by Elvis Presley for 500 pounds. Other items auctioned included four American dollar bills autographed by the Beatles, for 220 pounds and a collection of personal letters belonging to the Rolling Stones, also for 220 pounds
March 14 - Record producer Quincy Jones receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame
March 19 - Elvis Presley's autopsy is subpoened during the trial of Dr. George Nichopoulous, who would later be found guilty of overprescribing drugs to Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and other clients.
March 29 - Ronald Selle, wins a lawsuit filed against the Bee Gees, Paramount Pictures and Polygram Records. Selle alleged that the Bee Gees' song "How Deep is Your Love" plagiarized two sections of a song he wrote called "Let it End." The Bee Gees claim they never heard Selle's song. (The Bee Gees successfully appeal the decision in 1983.)

April-December

April 13 - The Broadway musical Grease closes its run of 3,388 performances, making it the longest running show on Broadway up until that time.
April 14 - A member of the New Jersey State assembly introduces a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the official state song.
April 17 - As the "official guests of State", Bob Marley and the Wailers perform at Zimbabwe's Independence festival. Marley calls the event the "greatest honor of my life."
April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film, McVicar, opens in London.
May 18 - Ian Curtis, vocalist of pioneering post-punk group Joy Division, hangs himself in his Macclesfield home. His death comes just days before Joy Division are scheduled to begin their first U.S. tour.
September 25 - Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham found dead at age 33. The night previous Bonham had spent on a drinking binge leading to his passing out at Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page's country estate in Windsor, Berkshire. Sometime during the night, Bonham choked on his own vomit and passed away. He was found dead the next morning by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. Led Zeppelin officially broke up in December of that year as a result, never to reunite. They are second only to The Beatles in terms of albums sold.
November 21 - The Eagles' Don Henley is arrested when cocaine, Quaaludes, and marijuana were found in his hotel room after a nude 16 year old prostitute had drug-related seizures. Henley is also subsequently charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
December - Duran Duran signs with EMI after finalizing its lineup and touring as a support act for Hazel O'Connor
December 8 - John Lennon is shot and killed outside of his apartment building in New York City.

unknown dates

The single "Groovy Ghost Show" by Casper is the first recorded hip hop music from Chicago
Hee Bee Gee Bees release cutting parody of Bee Gees' disco-style single. Though not a hit in the UK, it is a huge success elsewhere, particularly in Australia, and helps to encourage the Gibb brothers to diversify stylistically
Network Riddum Band's Breaking Out is the first occurrence of the term rapso as the musical genre continues its popularization
Seals & Crofts break up
Mercyful Fate forms
Minor Threat forms
The Sisters of Mercy forms
Phil Collins signs a contract with Atlantic Records after leaving Genesis
Hsker D forms, and signs a contract with SST Records

Albums released

A-C

Super Trouper - ABBA
Back in Black - AC/DC
I'm a Rebel - Accept
Aerosmith's Greatest Hits - Aerosmith
The Birthday Party - The Birthday Party
Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
Live at Last - Black Sabbath
Autoamerican - Blondie
Eat to the Beat - Blondie
Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow
Hold Out - Jackson Browne
Catholic Boy - Jim Carroll Band
Panorama - The Cars
XIV - Chicago
Humans - Bruce Cockburn
Flush the Fashion - Alice Cooper
Get Happy!!! - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Christopher Cross - Christopher Cross
Group Sex - The Circle Jerks (debut)
London Calling - The Clash (2-record set)
Sandinista! - The Clash (3-record set)
Flush the Fashion - Alice Cooper
Stations of the Crass - Crass
Seventeen Seconds - The Cure

D-I

Gigi In Paradisco - Dalida
Le Spectacle du Palais des Sports 1980 - Dalida
t 80 (Rio Do Brasil) - Dalida (compilation)
On Throught the Night - Def Leppard (debut)
Freedom of Choice - Devo
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Lightning to the Nations - Diamond Head
Making Movies - Dire Straits
Live - The Eagles (2-record set)
Just One Night - Eric Clapton
Crazy Rhythms - The Feelies
The Inside Story - Robben Ford
Head Games - Foreigner
Peter Gabriel III - Peter Gabriel
After Dark - Andy Gibb
Never Alone - Amy Grant
Loud N" Clear - Sammy Hagar
Voices - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Roses in the Snow - Emmylou Harris
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

J-R

Sound Affects - The Jam
A - Jethro Tull
Glass Houses - Billy Joel
21 at 33 - Elton John
Departure - Journey
Dream After Dream - Journey
Closer - Joy Division
British Steel - Judas Priest
Unmasked - KISS
Metal-rendez-vous - Krokus
Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Uprising - Bob Marley and the Wailers
McCartney II - Paul McCartney
Ace of Spades - Motrhead
Xanadu (soundtrack by Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra)
Scream Dream - Ted Nugent
Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne (solo debut)
Mekons - The Mekons
Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police
The Pretenders - The Pretenders
Dirty Mind - Prince
The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs
Second Edition - Public Image Ltd.
The Game - Queen
Don't Fight It - Red Rider
Greatest Hits - Kenny Rogers
Permanent Waves - Rush

S-W

Head On - Samson
Strong Arm of the Law - Saxon
Wheels of Steel - Saxon
Animal Magnetism - Scorpions
Longest Road - Seals & Crofts (final album)
Specials - The Specials
The River - Bruce Springsteen
Gaucho - Steely Dan
Hotter than July - Stevie Wonder
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Empty Glass - Pete Townshend
Boy - U2 (debut)
Women and Children First - Van Halen
Ready an' Willin' - Whitesnake
Live...im the Heart of the City - Whitesnake

Chronological Table of US and UK Number One Hit Singles

US Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

UK Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes (2 weeks in 1979 + 1 week in 1980)
"Please Don't Go" - KC & The Sunshine Band (1)
"Rock With You" - Michael Jackson (4)
"Do That To Me One More Time" - The Captain & Tennille (1)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen (4)
"Another Brick In The Wall, Part II" - Pink Floyd (4)
"Call Me" - Blondie (6)
"Funkytown" - Lipps Inc (4)
"Coming Up" - Paul McCartney & Wings (3)
"It's Still Rock And Roll To Me" - Billy Joel (2)
"Magic" - Olivia Newton-John (4)
"Sailing" - Christopher Cross (1)
"Upside Down" - Diana Ross (4)
"Another One Bites The Dust" - Queen (3)
"Woman In Love" - Barbra Streisand (3)
"Lady" - Kenny Rogers (6) best selling single of the year
"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (1 week in 1980 + 2 weeks in 1981)

"Another Brick In The Wall Part II" - Pink Floyd (3 weeks in 1979 + 2 weeks in 1980)
"Brass In Pocket" - Pretenders (2)
"Specials EP - Too Much Too Young" - Specials featuring Rico (2)
"Coward Of The County" - Kenny Rogers (2)
"Atomic" - Blondie (2)
"Together We Are Beautiful" - Fern Kinney (1)
"Going Underground" - The Jam (3)
"Working My Way Back To You" - Detroit Spinners (2)
"Call Me" - Blondie (1)
"Geno" - Dexy's Midnight Runners (2)
"What's Another Year" - Johnny Logan (2)
"Suicide Is Painless (Theme From MASH)" - MASH (3)
"Crying" - Don McLean (3)
"Xanadu" - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra (2)
"Use It Up And Wear It Out" - Odyssey (2)
"The Winner Takes It All" - ABBA (2)
"Ashes To Ashes" - David Bowie (2)
"Start" - The Jam (1)
"Feels Like I'm In Love" - Kelly Marie (2)
"Don't Stand So Close To Me"- The Police (4), best selling single of the year
"Woman In Love" - Barbra Streisand (3)
"The Tide Is High" - Blondie (2)
"Super Trouper" - ABBA (3)
"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (1)
"There's Noone Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)

Other significant singles

A-K

" ma manire" - Dalida
"All Night Long" - Rainbow
"All Out of Love" - Air Supply
"Any Way You Want It" - Journey
"Ashes To Ashes" - David Bowie
"Big Man, Big M.A.N." - Crass
"Borrowed Time" - Styx
"Breakfast In America" - Supertramp
"Breaking the Law" - Judas Priest
"Chanteur des Annes 80" - Dalida
"Drivin' My Life Away" - Eddie Rabbit
"Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" - The Korgis
"Fool in the Rain" - Led Zeppelin
"Freewill" - Rush
"Games Without Frontiers" - Peter Gabriel
"Get A Move On" - Eddie Money
"Gigi In Paradisco" - Dalida
"Good Morning Girl" - Journey
"He's So Shy" - Pointer Sisters
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
"Hungry Heart" - Bruce Springsteen
"I Can't Tell You Why" - The Eagles
"I'm Alright" - Kenny Loggins
"Je suis toutes les femmes" - Dalida

L-Y

"Lay All Your Love On Me" (12") - ABBA
"Let's Be Lovers Again" - Eddie Money
"Living After Midnight" - Judas Priest
"London Calling" - The Clash
"The Long Run" - The Eagles
"Lost in Love" - Air Supply
"Love The World Away" - Kenny Rogers
"Metal Gods" - Judas Priest
"New Amsterdam" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
"On And On And On" - ABBA
"Pop Muzik" - M
"Remember (Walking in the Sand)" - Aerosmith
"Rev On The Red Line" - Foreigner
"Rio Do Brasil" - Dalida
"Running Back" - Eddie Money
"Since You Been Gone" - Rainbow
"Stay Awhile" - Journey
"Super Trouper" - ABBA
"The Tide Is High" - Blondie
"The Winner Takes It All" - ABBA
"Too Late" - Journey
"Touch and Go" - The Cars
"Train in Vain" - The Clash
"Tulsa Time" - Eric Clapton
"Turn It On Again" - Genesis
"Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles (first popular in 1979 in the UK; music video made in 1980; became noticed in 1981 in North America, since it was the first music video on MTV)
"Why Me" - Styx
"Women" - Foreigner
"You May Be Right" - Billy Joel