1980

Winter Olympics came to Lake Placid, where the US hockey team upset the Soviets in the Miracle on Ice. Iran's hostage crisis dragged on, and the SAS ended the Iranian Embassy siege in London live on the news. Elsewhere, Zimbabwe gained independence and Yugoslavia buried Tito. The Sony Walkman went on sale in the United States, which was quietly bad news for anyone with a shoulder bag full of cassettes that needed rewinding.

Heavy metal was busy changing its accent. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal had a name, thanks to Sounds, and Iron Maiden's self-titled debut arrived in April, with Live!! + One closing out the year. Motörhead had Ace of Spades in November, plus the Golden Years live EP and Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers. Black Sabbath rebooted with Heaven and Hell, and Ozzy Osbourne launched his solo career with Blizzard of Ozz. Def Leppard's On Through the Night appeared in March, while Queen went to the pop end of the rock aisle with The Game and then Flash Gordon. Towering over all of it was AC/DC's Back in Black. Among the bands formed that year were Manowar, Metal Church, Queensrÿche, Overkill and Suicidal Tendencies.

It was also a grim year. Bon Scott died on 19 February at 33, and AC/DC brought in Brian Johnson in April. On 25 September John Bonham died at 32, and Led Zeppelin disbanded. Kiss swapped Peter Criss for Eric Carr, and Iron Maiden's Dennis Stratton made way for Adrian Smith in October.