Vicious' Murder Trial Begins
Jan 2 British punk rocker Sid Vicious' trial for murder of girlfriend Nancy Spungen begins
6th American Music Awards
Jan 12 6th American Music Awards: Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt win
- 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"