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 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 - 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 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 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 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."
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.
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
"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)
"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)
