1981 in music
See also: 1980 in music, other events of 1981, 1982 in music and the list of 'years in music'.
Events
- January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith
- February 14 - Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career
- February 15 - Blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield is found dead in San Francisco. The cause of death was ruled an accidental drug overdose
- March 14 - Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clapton's 60 city tour of the US is canceled.
- April 7 - Former Who manager Kit Lambert dies after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London. Lambert managed the band between 1964 and 1967.
- April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli
- April 17 - Eric Clapton is released from St. Paul's Hospital in Minnesota following a month-long treatment for bleeding ulcers.
- April 18 - Yes announces that they're breaking up. (They would however reunite frequently in years to come).
- April 20 - The Mamas and the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after after pleading guilty to drug possesion charges. Phillips' sentence would be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service
- April 22 - Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from brused ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
- April 25 - Paul McCartney's backing band, Wings, breaks up
- August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day
- The musical Cats begins its 18 year run on Broadway
- Menudo's golden era (1981-1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
- U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television apperance
- Phil Collins releases his first solo album (although he won't leave the band Genesis until 1995)
- Joe Walsh leaves the Eagles
- Hunters & Collectors forms
- Sonic Youth forms
- Throbbing Gristle split up
- Social Distortion's career starts
Albums Released
- Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
- Damaged - Black Flag
- Red - Black Uhuru
- Autoamerican - Blondie
- Best of Blondie - Blondie
- Shot of Love - Bob Dylan
- Made in America - The Carpenters
- Face Value - Phil Collins
- Trust - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
- Penis Envy - Crass
- Duran Duran - Duran Duran
- 4 - Foreigner
- The Electric Spanking of War Babies - Funkadelic
- The Beauty and the Beat - The Go-Go's
- Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
- My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - David Byrne & Brian Eno
- Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
- I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
- The Fox - Elton John
- Captured - Journey
- Escape - Journey
- Point of Entry - Judas Priest
- Discipline - King Crimson
- Computer World - Kraftwerk
- Get Lucky - Loverboy
- Quiero Ser - Menudo
- M.S.G. II - The Michael Schenker Group
- One Night at Budokan - The Michael Schenker Group
- Self-Titled - The Michael Schenker Group
- Minor Threat and In My Eyes - Minor Threat
- Fiyou on the Bayou - The Neville Brothers
- Physical - Olivia Newton-John
- Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
- Blizzard Of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne
- Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
- Ghost In The Machine - The Police
- Controversy - Prince
- Talk, Talk, Talk - Psychedelic Furs
- Quarterflash - Quarterflash
- Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
- Moving Pictures - Rush
- Mainliner (The Wreckage Of The Past) - Social Distortion
- Non-Stop Erotic Caberet - Soft Cell
- East Side Story - Squeeze
- The Time - The Time
- Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
- October - U2
- Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
- Fair Warning - Van Halen
Top Hits
- "Arthur's Theme" - Christopher Cross
- "Begin the Beguine (Volver a Empezar)" - Julio Iglesias
- "Being With You" - Smokey Robinson
- "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes
- "Celebration" - Kool & the Gang
- "Don't You Want Me" - Human League
- "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
- "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
- "Every Litte Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police
- "Ghost Town" - The Specials
- "Girls On Film" - Duran Duran
- "Green Door" - Shakin' Stevens
- "Heading Out To The Highway" - Judas Priest
- "Imagine" - John Lennon
- "In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
- "Intruder" - Peter Gabriel
- "It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
- "Japanese Boy" - Aneka
- "Jealous Guy" - Roxy Music
- "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfied
- "Kiss on My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
- "Makin' Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz
- "Morning Train" - Sheena Easton
- "Oh Yeah" - Roxy Music
- "One Day In Your Life" - Michael Jackson
- "Physical" - Olivia Newton-John
- "Prince Charming" - Adam & the Ants
- "Private Eyes' - Daryl Hall & John Oates
- "Radio Free Europe" - R.E.M. (debut)
- "Rapture" - Blondie
- "Seven Bridges Road" - The Eagles
- "Shaddap Your Face" - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
- "Stand and Deliver" - Adam & the Ants
- "Tainted Love" - Soft Cell
- "This Ole' House" - Shakin' Stevens
- "TV Party" - Black Flag
- "Under Pressure" - Queen & David Bowie
- "Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles
- "What Makes You Think You're The One" - Fleetwood Mac
- "Woman" - John Lennon
- "Yes, I'm Your Angel" - John Lennon
Births
Deaths
- January 23 - Samuel Barber
- February 9 - Bill Haley, dies of heart attack
- February 15 - Mike Bloomfield, blues guitarist
- April 5 - Bob Hite, Canned Heat, heart attack
- April 7 - Kit Lambert, former manager for The Who
- May 11 - Bob Marley