1979 in music| By location |
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- country
- heavy metal
- hip hop
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Overview of the events of 1979 in heavy metal music
This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1979.
Bands formed
Bands disbanded
Events
- In the May issue of Sounds magazine, music journalist Geoff Barton wrote about the emerging scene at the Bandwagon Rock Club in Kingsbury, North London. It was in this article that the term "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" was first introduced, coined by Sounds editor Alan Lewis.
- Black Sabbath parted ways with lead singer Ozzy Osbourne due to his persistent drug abuse issues. He was replaced by Ronnie James Dio.
- Tensions within Aerosmith reached a boiling point when lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry engaged in a heated confrontation after a show in Cleveland, leading Perry to depart from the band.
- Dennis Stratton joined Iron Maiden as the second guitarist, while Clive Burr took over drumming duties, replacing Doug Sampson.
- Guitarist Michael Schenker departed from Scorpions, and Matthias Jabs was brought in as his permanent replacement.
Deaths
- February 2 – John Simon Ritchie, better known by his stage name Sid Vicious, former bassist of Sex Pistols, died from a drug overdose at the age of 21.
- March 22 – Clayborn Pinkins, founding member and bassist of Black Death, was murdered by gunshot at the age of 25.
- June 21 – Angus William MacLise, original drummer of The Velvet Underground, died from hypoglycemia and pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 41.
Albums
January
| Day | Artist | Album |
| 16 | Accept | Accept |
| | Black Flag | Nervous Breakdown |
| Def Leppard | The Def Leppard E.P. |
| Nazareth | No Mean City |
| UFO | Strangers in the Night (live album) |
February
March
April
| Day | Artist | Album |
| 13 | Thin Lizzy | Black Rose: A Rock Legend |
| | Blackfoot | Strikes |
| Ramones | It's Alive (live album) |
May
| Day | Artist | Album |
| 21 | Saxon | Saxon |
| | Trust | Trust |
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Unknown release date
| Artist | Album |
| Gravestone | Doomsday |
| Legend | Fröm the Fjörds |
| Mass | Slaughter House |
| Silvertrain | Which Platform Please? |
| TKO | Let It Roll |
| Preceded by | Heavy Metal Timeline
1979 | Succeeded by |
References
