- 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.
- June - Rock and Roll pioneer Bill Haley performs for the last time during a tour of South Africa . After this tour, his health deteriorates and he dies in February 1981. July 1980 marks the 25th anniversary of Haley's " Rock Around The Clock " reaching No. 1 on the American singles charts.
- August 23 – The Heatwave festival near Toronto featured The B-52's , the Talking Heads , The Pretenders , Elvis Costello and many others.
- August 31 - Karen Carpenter marries Thomas Burris in their shortly-lived marriage of three years. " Because We Are In Love " is played at their wedding.
- September 25 - Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham found dead at age 32.
- November 21 - The Eagles' Don Henley is arrested when Cocaine , Quaalude s, 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 .
The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in 1980.
- "Desire" w.m. Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb & Robin Gibb
- "Do Right" w.m. Paul Davis
- " Fame " w. Dean Pitchford m. Michael Gore
- "He's So Shy" w. Cynthia Weil m. Tom Snow
- "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" w.m. Sharon Vaughan
- "Never Knew Love Like This Before" w.m. James Mtume & Reginald Lucas
- "No Night So Long" w. Will Jennings m. Richard Kerr
- "The Winner Takes It All" w.m. Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
- January 25 - Alicia Keys
- January 28 - Nick Carter , The Backstreet Boys
- February 15 - Conor Oberst , Bright Eyes
- February 18 - Regina Spektor
- February 27 - Cyrus Bolooki , New Found Glory
- March 21 - Deryck Whibley , Sum 41
- March 31 - Maaya Sakamoto
- June 20 - Tony Lovato , Mest
- June 26 - Jason Schwartzman , Phantom Planet
- July 10 - Jessica Simpson
- July 20 - Mike Kennerty , The All-American Rejects
- July 26 - Dave Baksh , Sum 41
- September 11 - Mikey Way , My Chemical Romance
- September 13 - Teppei Teranishi , Thrice
- October 5 - Paul Thomas , Good Charlotte
- November 17 - Clarke Isaac Hanson , Hanson
- November 18 - Dustin Kensrue , Thrice
- December 5 - Trent McAlister , musician (bassist) / songwriter
- December 10 - Sarah Chang , violinist
- Chris Gaynor , The All-American Rejects
- December 18 - Christina Aguilera
- January 2 - Larry Williams
- January 6 - Poley McClintock , jazz musician
- January 7 - Carl White , The Rivingtons
- January 29 - Jimmy Durante US pianist & entertainer
- January 30 - Professor Longhair US pianist
- February 19 - Bon Scott , lead singer of AC/DC , alcohol poisoning
- March 26 - Jon Paulus (32), The Buckinghams , drug overdose
- March 26 - Ted Shapiro , US songwriter & pianist
- March 28 - Dick Haymes , (63), Argentinian-born US singer and actor
- March 30 - Annunzio Mantovani , Italian-born British orchestra leader and composer
- April 28 - Tommy Caldwell , Marshall Tucker Band , car accident
- May 18 - Ian Curtis , lead singer of Joy Division , Suicide by Hanging
- June 16 - Bob Nolan , country singer and songwriter
- June 20 - Allan Pettersson , Swedish composer
- June 21 - Bert Kaempfert , German composer, bandleader and arranger
- June 27 - Barney Bigard , US jazz clarinetist
- June 28 - Jose Iturbi , Pianist
- July 15 - Ben Selvin , ''The Dean of Recorded Music''
- July 23 - Keith Godchaux , Grateful Dead , car accident
- August 17 - Harold Adamson , US lyricist
- September 12 - Lillian Randolph , actress and singer
- September 25 - John Bonham , Led Zeppelin
- October 27 - Steve Peregrin Took , Bongo player for Tyrannosaurus Rex , choking
- December 7 - Darby Crash Lead singer of punk rock band, The Germs
- December 8 - John Lennon
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