Events in Music History in January 1979

Vicious' Murder Trial Begins

Jan 2 British punk rocker Sid Vicious' trial for murder of girlfriend Nancy Spungen begins

  • Jan 6 The Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak it sold over 150,000 copies a day
  • Jan 11 "Grand Tour" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 61 performances
  • Jan 26 Music Center Vredenburg opens in Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Jan 28 Charlie Smalls' musical "The Wiz", an updated take on "The Wizard of Oz", starring Stephanie Mills, Stu Gilliam, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, closes at Majestic Theater in NYC, after 1,672 performances, 7 Tony and 6 Drama Desk Awards
  • Jan 29 Brenda Spencer (16) kills 2 adults and injures 8 children and a police officer in a San Diego, California schoolyard shooting; incident inspires Irish rockers Boomtown Rats' song "I Don't Like Mondays"