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 19 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies in London after choking on his own vomit, the result of an all-night drinking binge.
February 29 - Buddy Holly's trademark eyeglasses and the Big Bopper's wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the Mason City, Iowa Sheriff. Holly and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 along with singer Ritchie Valens.

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 32. 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 died. 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 dead 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, Illinois
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
Bachman-Turner Overdrive break up (they reform periodically over the years)
The Eagles break up (they reform in 1994)
Starland Vocal Band break up
The Germs break up
George Clinton dissolves Parliament
Paul McCartney dissolves Wings
Horslips break up
Average White Band disbands
Gentle Giant break up
The Buggles break up
Boys Next Door disband and become The Birthday Party
Wire disband (they reform in 1985)
Mercyful Fate forms
Minor Threat forms
The Sisters of Mercy forms
Phil Collins signs a contract with Atlantic Records to distribute his solo records in the US and in Europe outside the UK (on WEA label)
Hüsker Dü forms, and signs a contract with SST Records

Albums released

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)
"Please Don't Go" - KC & The Sunshine Band (1) "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes (2 weeks in 1979 + 1 week in 1980) "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), best selling single of the year "Funkytown" - Lipps Inc (4) "Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)" - Paul McCartney (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) "(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) "The Special AKA Live 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 Dreams Of Children" - The Jam (3) "Working My Way Back To You - Forgive Me Girl" - 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 No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)

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

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

"Please Don't Go" - KC & The Sunshine Band (1)
"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes (2 weeks in 1979 + 1 week in 1980)
"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), best selling single of the year
"Funkytown" - Lipps Inc (4)
"Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)" - Paul McCartney (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)
"(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)
"The Special AKA Live 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 Dreams Of Children" - The Jam (3)
"Working My Way Back To You - Forgive Me Girl" - 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 M*A*S*H)" - M*A*S*H (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 No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)