Timeline December 1980

Events in December 1980 13

• 1911 – 1980 Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) Died 31 December 1980, aged 69 Canadian philosopher and media theorist famous for coining the phrase "the medium is the message" and predicting the rise of a global electronic "village." His work anticipated the internet age and profoundly influenced media and communication studies. He taught for decades at the University of Toronto.
• 1940 – 1980 John Lennon Singer-songwriter, Beatle English musician, co-founder of the Beatles and co-writer of most of their songs. Solo career with Plastic Ono Band and Imagine. Murdered in New York in 1980.
• 1968 – 1980 Led Zeppelin English rock band Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham — the heaviest and biggest-selling rock band of the 1970s.
• 1980 1980: Alan Jones Williams Australian Jones won the first Drivers' Championship for Frank Williams's team, establishing Williams as a major force in the sport.
• 1980 9 to 5 (Film and Song) Made her film debut starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the comedy 9 to 5. She wrote and performed the title song, which reached number one on both the pop and country charts, earned an Academy Award nomination and won a Grammy. The film was a box-office smash.
• 1980 Galileo at the National Theatre Took the lead role in John Dexter's production of Galileo, a performance that catapulted his stage career and cemented his reputation as one of Britain's leading actors.
• 1980 Moved to London Moved to London at the age of 22 with a growing reputation as a dub poet, performing in pubs, clubs and community centres.
• 1980 Australian Open 1980 Men: Brian Teacher · Women: Hana Mandlíková
• 1980 Led Zeppelin break up Statement They announce they cannot continue without Bonham.
• 1980 John Lennon murdered Shot outside Dakota Building, New York — December 8, 1980 John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment at the Dakota Building in New York City on December 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman. He was 40 years old. His death shocked the world and prompted an outpouring of grief comparable to the death of a head of state.
• 1980 The Clash release Sandinista! Triple album Thirty-six tracks of dub, rap, jazz and gospel.
• 1980 – present Richie McCaw Openside flanker and the winningest captain in international rugby history Richard Hugh McCaw is a former New Zealand rugby union player regarded as one of the greatest players and captains the sport has produced. An openside flanker renowned for his relentless work rate at the breakdown, he made his Test debut for the All Blacks in 2001 and went on to earn 148 caps, captaining the side in a record 110 of them. Under his leadership New Zealand won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015, making him the first captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice. He retired from international rugby immediately after the 2015 final with the best win percentage of any long-serving Test captain in history.
• 1980 Richie McCaw born in Kurow, Otago Richie McCaw enters the world in rural North Otago Richard Hugh McCaw was born on 31 December 1980 in Kurow, a small farming town in North Otago on New Zealand's South Island. He grew up on the family farm and attended local schools before boarding at Otago Boys' High School, where his rugby ability first drew wider notice. His rural upbringing instilled the work ethic and stoicism that would later define his approach to the game.