Year:1980

Bands Formed

 * New Order
 * Stray Cats

Singles Released
Love Will Tear Us Apart Joy Division

Atmosphere Joy Division

Train in Vain (Stand by Me) The Clash

Ashes to Ashes David Bowie

A Forest The Cure

Shaddap You Face Joe Dolce Music Theatre

Holiday in Cambodia Dead Kennedys

Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd

Going Underground/The Dreams of Children The Jam

Enola Gay Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Fade to Grey Visage

The Great Curve Talking Heads

Clampdown The Clash

Ace of Spades Motörhead

Redemption Song Bob Marley

Army Dreamers Kate Bush

Israel Siouxsie & the Banshees

The Same Old Scene Roxy Music

Hate the Police Dicks

Echo Beach Martha & The Muffins

Crosseyed and Painless Talking Heads

Atomic Blondie

Games Without Frontiers Peter Gabriel

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) Talking Heads

Totally Wired The Fall

Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime The Korgis

Academy Fight Song Mission of Burma

Requiem Killing Joke

I Travel Simple Minds

Babooshka Kate Bush

Cities Talking Heads

Breathing Kate Bush

Treason (It's Just a Story) The Teardrop Explodes

I Got You Split Enz

Kill the Poor Dead Kennedys

Happy House Siouxsie & the Banshees

I Will Follow U2

Embarrassment Madness

Underpass John Foxx

Messages Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Geno Dexys Midnight Runners

Rescue Echo & the Bunnymen

A Song From Under the Floorboards Magazine

I Wanna Be Sedated The Ramones

Could You Be Loved Bob Marley

Garbageman The Cramps

Christine Siouxsie & the Banshees

People Who Died Jim Carroll

Prowler Iron Maiden

The Breaks Kurtis Blow

Do Nothing/Maggie's Farm The Specials

Broken English Marianne Faithfull

Call Me Blondie

Romeo and Juliet Dire Straits

Private Idaho The B-52's

Falling and Laughing Orange Juice

Mirror in the Bathroom The Beat

Running Free Iron Maiden

How I Wrote 'Elastic Man' The Fall

Neon Knights Black Sabbath

Generals and Majors/Don't Lose Your Temper XTC

Rudie Can't Fail The Clash

Pay to Cum! Bad Brains

Better Scream Wah! Heat

Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? The Ramones

10:15 Saturday Night The Cure

Stereotype/International Jet Set The Specials

Datapanik in the Year Zero-A Pere Ubu

Start! The Jam

Rat Race/Rude Boys Outta Jail The Specials

Dark Entries Bauhaus

I Wanna Destroy You The Soft Boys

Three Little Birds Bob Marley

We Are Glass Gary Numan

Dib-Be-Dib-Be-Dize Brother D

Tunnel of Love Dire Straits

The Spirit of Radio Rush

Upside Down Diana Ross

Talk of the Town The Pretenders

The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) John Williams

No Self Control Peter Gabriel

Sister Europe The Psychedelic Furs

Final Day Young Marble Giants

Can't Cheat Karma Zounds

Gentlemen Take Polaroids Japan

Baggy Trousers Madness

Bankrobber The Clash

Run Like Hell Pink Floyd

Refugee Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Ricky's Hand Fad Gadget

Night Boat to Cairo Madness

Para ti Paraíso

Runaway Boys Stray Cats

I Die: You Die Gary Numan

Sanctuary Iron Maiden

Johnny and Mary Robert Palmer

Fashion David Bowie

Girl You Want Devo

Diet Au Pairs

Whip It Devo

Dancing with Myself Generation X

I Zimbra Talking Heads

The Jean Genie/Space Oddity David Bowie

Die Matrosen LiLiPUT

Die Young Black Sabbath

What Use? Tuxedomoon

Io se fossi Dio Giorgio Gaber

Blue Boy Orange Juice

I Believe Buzzcocks

Freedom of Choice Devo

Master Blaster Stevie Wonder

Bad Reputation Joan Jett

Wardance Killing Joke

No-One Driving John Foxx

Black and White The dB's

Mr. Clarinet The Birthday Party

More Bounce to the Ounce Zapp

Ah Leah! Donnie Iris

Dirty Mind Prince

Breaking the Law Judas Priest

We Got the Beat Go-Go's

New Europeans Ultravox

Ten Feet Tall XTC

Funkytown Lipps Inc

Turning Japanese The Vapors

(Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Dreiklangs-Dimensionen Rheingold

Stomp! The Brothers Johnson

Dog Eat Dog Adam and the Ants

Over You Roxy Music

To Cut a Long Story Short Spandau Ballet

Komakino Joy Division

He Stopped Loving Her Today George Jones

Is It All Over My Face Loose Joints

Best Friend/Stand Down Margaret (Dub) The Beat

Crazy Train Ozzy Osbourne

Do You Wanna Dance? The Silver

Terror Couple Kill Colonel Bauhaus

Let Me Talk Earth, Wind & Fire

(Theme From) New York, New York Frank Sinatra

Elstree Buggles

I Don't Remember Peter Gabriel

Can You Feel It The Jacksons

Cherchez le garçon Taxi Girl

It's No Game (Part 1) David Bowie

White Girl X

A Lover's Holiday/Glow of Love Change (band)

It's Kinda Funny Josef K

At Last I Am Free Robert Wyatt

Nobody's Hero/Tin Soldiers Stiff Little Fingers

Nagasaki Nightmare Crass

Burning Car John Foxx

Biko Peter Gabriel

Hungry Heart Bruce Springsteen

The Puppet Echo & the Bunnymen

Oh Yeah Roxy Music

Fiery Jack The Fall

Getting Nowhere Fast Girls at Our Best

Food for Thought/King UB40

Too Much Too Young The Specials

This World of Water New Musik

Another One Bites the Dust Queen

I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down Elvis Costello

Magic Olivia Newton-John

My Perfect Cousin The Undertones

The Winner Takes It All ABBA

Don't Stand So Close to Me The Police

Changeling Simple Minds

Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) Squeeze

Hells Bells AC/DC

Fade Away Bruce Springsteen

Take Your Time (Do It Right) S.O.S. Band

Angel Witch Angel Witch

Mercenaries (Ready for War) John Cale

Towers of London XTC

The Zoo Scorpions

Hey Nineteen Steely Dan

Too Many Creeps Bush Tetras

The Bed's Too Big Without You The Police

December Will Be Magic Again Kate Bush

The Plastic Age Buggles

Let My Love Open the Door Pete Townshend

One Step Ahead Split Enz

Decontrol Discharge

Love Canal Flipper

Another Nail in My Heart Squeeze

Living After Midnight Judas Priest

Highway Rider Black Axe

When I Dream The Teardrop Explodes

Coming Up Paul McCartney

Fame/Golden Years David Bowie

Groenlandia Zombies

Horror en el hipermercado Alaska y Los Pegamoides

Drug Train The Cramps

Back in Black AC/DC

Give Me Back My Man The B-52's

You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC

Is Vic There? Department S

Gathering Dust Modern English

Warm Moving Bodies The Units

Dirty Back Road The B-52's

Touch and Go The Cars

Private Life Grace Jones

Telegram Sam Bauhaus

Antmusic Adam and the Ants

Uptown Prince

The Durutti Column Single The Durutti Column

So Long Fischer-Z

Kings of the Wild Frontier Adam and the Ants

New Amsterdam Elvis Costello

Late in the Evening Paul Simon

Rainbow Warrior Bleak House

King's Call Phil Lynott

There, There My Dear Dexys Midnight Runners

Children of the Sea/Lady Evil Black Sabbath

I Hope I Never Split Enz

Seven Minutes to Midnight Wah! Heat

Persons Unknown/Bloody Revolutions Poison Girls/Crass

Wednesday Week The Undertones

Staten & kapitalet Ebba Grön

Seconds Too Late Cabaret Voltaire

Let's Build a Car Swell Maps

Love T.K.O. Teddy Pendergrass

Passing Strangers Ultravox

Jersey Girl Tom Waits

Stop the Cavalry Jona Lewie

Hands Off She's Mine The Beat

Guten Morgen Vogel

The Call Up The Clash

I'm Coming Out Diana Ross

Sex The Urinals

11 O'Clock Tick Tock U2

Against the Wind Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

Shack Up A Certain Ratio

Simply Thrilled Honey Orange Juice

Der Räuber und der Prinz Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft

High Fidelity Elvis Costello

Flight A Certain Ratio

No Woman, No Cry Bob Marley

Staring at the Rude Boys The Ruts

Women in Uniform Iron Maiden

That's the Joint Funky Four Plus One

Divina Radio Futura

Misunderstanding Genesis

When I'm With You Sparks

Adrenalin Throbbing Gristle

Sleepwalk Ultravox

B Colin Newman

Mine Mine Mind Roky Erickson and the Aliens

Heyday The Sound

Turn It On Again Genesis

You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties Jona Lewie

Enamorado de la moda juvenil Radio Futura

Nights in White Satin The Moody Blues

The Friend Catcher The Birthday Party

Give Me the Night (song) George Benson

The Lonely Spy Lori & The Chameleons

Into the Night Benny Mardones

Strobe Light The B-52's

Missing Words The Selecter

Where There's a Will There's a Way/In the Beginning There Was Rhythm The Pop Group/The Slits

Sailing Christopher Cross

All Systems Go Poison Girls

Someone's Looking at You The Boomtown Rats

Warhead U.K. Subs

All Over the World Electric Light Orchestra

Alabama Song David Bowie

Maybe Tomorrow The Chords

A Day Without Me U2

Everything Works If You Let It Cheap Trick

The Wayfaring Stranger Emmylou Harris

Sometimes a Fantasy Billy Joel

Fever The Cramps

Patio Set The Embarrassment

Jane Jefferson Starship

Outside the Trains Don't Run on Time Gang of Four

Anticipation Delta 5

Marie, Marie Shakin' Stevens

The Hardest Part Blondie

747 (Strangers in the Night) Saxon

Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.) Tom Browne

I Need Two Heads The Go-Betweens

Give Me Your Love Sylvia Striplin

Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder

And the Cradle Will Rock... Van Halen

Kebabträume Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft

Suis-je normale Nini Raviolette

Will You? Hazel O'Connor

Mr. Jones The Psychedelic Furs

Don't Wait Up for Me The Beat

For My Country UK Decay

Swans on Glass Modern English

La chica de ayer Nacha Pop

Pressure Drop Toots and the Maytals

Independence Day The Comsat Angels

Jukebox Babe Alan Vega

This Wreckage Gary Numan

Woman in Love Barbra Streisand

Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? Prince

Clubland Elvis Costello

Duchess Genesis

Janitor Suburban Lawns

Mr. Crowley [Live] Ozzy Osbourne

Original Sin Theatre of Hate

If I Didn't Love You (I'd Hate You) Squeeze

Precious The Pretenders

I'm Alive Electric Light Orchestra

Play the Game Queen

I Second That Emotion Japan

Man Next Door The Slits

Dalek I Love You (Destiny) Dalek I Love You

Circus Games Skids

West One (Shine on Me) The Ruts

Amoureux solitaires Lio

Commercial Single The Residents

Teen Line The Shivvers

Shoot Out the Lights Diamond Head

Shopping For Clothes Snatch

Crystal Japan David Bowie

Cheap Sunglasses ZZ Top

Double Heart Robert Rental

Race With the Devil Girlschool

Chinatown Thin Lizzy

Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) The Gap Band

Waterfalls Paul McCartney

The Turn of a Friendly Card The Alan Parsons Project

Savoir-Faire Family Fodder

Sex Machine The Crawling Chaos

At the Edge Stiff Little Fingers

Gunman Michael Prophet

Just the Two of Us Grover Washington, Jr.

It's a War Kano

Here Comes My Girl Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

The Affectionate Punch The Associates

The New Rap Language Spoonie Gee & The Treacherous Three

United Judas Priest

Too Nice to Talk To The Beat

Dark Companion Tuxedomoon

Red Frame/White Light Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Together Testors

The Groove Rodney Franklin

Get Up and Use Me Fire Engines

On the Road Again Willie Nelson

Debbie Harry Family Fodder

Fireside Favourite Fad Gadget

She's So Cold The Rolling Stones

Boat on the River Styx

Lips That Would Kiss The Durutti Column

Nerve Pylon The Lines

I Love You Climax Blues Band

I'm Ready Kano

Baby, I Love You The Ramones

I Wanna Get Married De Cylinders

I Don't Wanna Get Drafted Frank Zappa

Afrika Is Burning, and the Black Man Is Doing the Freak Safi Abdullah

Ma Quale Idea Pino D'Angiò

The Tide Is High Blondie

Heavy Metal Mania Holocaust

Euthenics Modern Eon

Rydeen Yellow Magic Orchestra

Three Minute Hero The Selecter

C'30, C'60, C'90 Go Bow Wow Wow

Faust Party 3 Extracts #2 Faust

I Belong to Nobody The Flaming Hands

Woman in Love Barbra Streisand

What's Another Year Johnny Logan

Heartbreak Hotel The Jacksons

All I Ever Wanted Santana

I Ain't Gonna Stand for It Stevie Wonder

Vertige de l'amour Alain Bashung

Behind the Mask Yellow Magic Orchestra

All for Leyna Billy Joel

Bimbo Yello

The Things That You Do Bob

John Wayne Was a Nazi Stains

Super Trouper ABBA

Fire Lake Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

Are Everything/Why She's a Girl From the Chainstore Buzzcocks

Banana Republic The Boomtown Rats

The Badge Means You Suck AK-47

The Man in the Dark Sedan Snakefinger

Meat Processing Section Surgical Penis Klinik

Save Me Queen

Fade Away/Learn a Language New Age Steppers/London Underground

Satan's Serenade Quartz

The History of the World (Pt. 1) The Damned

One Two Three The Professionals

Clones (We're All) Alice Cooper

Empty Rooms Visitors

Upside Down Magazine

Shake a Tailfeather The Blues Brothers

Erde 80 Christof Glowalla

Radio Drill Time Josef K

D'ya Think I'm Sexy Hybrid Kids

She's Out of My Life Michael Jackson

Face With No Name The Passengers

Lovely One The Jacksons

Army Life The Exploited

Sweetheart Contract Magazine

Broken Doll Wreckless Eric

Rough Boys Pete Townshend

L'encre de tes yeux Francis Cabrel

Sherry Darling Bruce Springsteen

Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution AC/DC

My Old Piano Diana Ross

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me Billy Joel

She Never Said The Church

Like This for Ages Cupol

Oops Upside Your Head The Gap Band

Hey You Scorpions

Politics! Girls at Our Best

New Age Chrome

One Day I'll Fly Away Randy Crawford

I Thank You ZZ Top

Cartrouble Adam and the Ants

Just Keep Walking INXS

Strong Arm of the Law Saxon

Need Your Loving Tonight Queen

Baby It's You Dolly Mixture

The Earth Dies Screaming/Dream a Lie UB40

Flirtin' With Disaster Molly Hatchet

My Mother Was a Friend of an Enemy of the People Blurt

Did You See Her? Pink Military

Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except Me and My Monkey) The Feelies

Summer Fun The Barracudas

I Can't Tell You Why Eagles

Walk Away Donna Summer

I Don't Wanna Be Too Cool Kate Fagan

Killer on the Loose Thin Lizzy

Clean Clean Buggles

Love Sensation Loleatta Holloway

Night Train Steve Winwood

We Got the Funk Positive Force

Amigo Black Slate

Special Brew Bad Manners

My Old Piano Diana Ross

Riot in Lagos Ryuichi Sakamoto

Use It Up and Wear It Out Odyssey

I Need You (Sylvester song) Sylvester

Young Blood UFO

I Hear You Now Jon and Vangelis

You Gave Me Love Crown Heights Affair

Suicide Is Painless The MASH

What's in a Kiss Gilbert O'Sullivan

Gotta Pull Myself Together The Nolans

What You're Proposing Status Quo

Breakdown Dead Ahead Boz Scaggs

My World Secret Affair

All Out of Love Air Supply

That's the Way the Money Goes M

Him Rupert Holmes

I Don't Want You Back Ramona Brooks

Let's Go Round Again Pt 1 Average White Band

Can't Fake the Feeling Geraldine Hunt

Hold On to My Love Jimmy Ruffin

The Martian Hop Rocky Sharpe & the Replays

Tonight Zaine Griff

Together We Are Beautiful Fern Kinney

Love Patrol The Dooleys

Dance Yourself Dizzy Liquid Gold

Close Your Eyes (If You Wanna Survive) Scrambled Egos

Hot Dog Shakin' Stevens

Love Enough for Two Prima Donna

Kinda Kute Joe Jackson

Hello, I Am Your Heart Bette Bright

Catching the Sun Spyro Gyra

Let Me Rock You Kandidate

One-Two-Five 10cc

Outside My Window Stevie Wonder

Body Language Hendy

Get Me to Heaven Marie Osmond

Love X Love George Benson

When You Ask About Love Matchbox

Casanova Coffee

Trouble Gillan

If You're Looking for a Way Out Odyssey

And the Birds Were Singing... Sweet People

Mama's Boy Suzi Quatro

Strange Little Girl Sad Cafe

Buzz Buzz a Diddle It Matchbox

Odyssey (song) Johnny Harris

Rapper Dapper Snapper Edwin Birdsong

Going Back To My Roots Richie Havens

Albums Released
Other Events
 * January 19: The Pretenders - Pretenders
 * February 29: Mr. Partridge - Take Away/The Lure Of Salvage
 * September 12: XTC - Black Sea
 * Various Artists - Going Steady
 * Dorothy Moore - Talk To Me


 * Disco becomes a dirty word
 * By 1980, disco had become a dirty word. The term was banished from the language as an added security measure [because remember, the disco that Ron and Frankie played was called 'house' even before house was], but the music was exported to England, where it was de-gayed and re-exported to the States under a new name: "new wave dance music." The rock majority was satisfied by the replacement of explicitly gay Sylvester with flamboyantly closeted Boy George. As the playlist segued from "I'm Coming Out" into "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me," the pulverization of the liberal imagination became a political fact. Ronald Reagan was elected president, and the following June, a mysterious new "gay cancer" appeared. --Peter Braunstein
 * Adrian Sherwood
 * In 1980, Adrian Sherwood launches On-U Sound Records.
 * Grace Jones
 * With the dawn  of the '80s came a massive  anti-disco  movement across the U.S., leading to Grace Jones focusing on more new wave and experimental-based work produced by the noted reggae team of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.