Martin Scorsese was directing Raging Bull.
Michael Cimino was going over budget and over schedule on Heaven’s Gate.
L. Ron Hubbard was preparing to publish Battlefield Earth (1980).
L. Sprague de Camp was publishing the essay collection The Blade of Conan…
…as well as (with Lin Carter) Conan the Liberator.
He was also editing the mixed-form collection The Spell of Conan…
…and preparing to publish Conan and the Spider God.
He was also preparing to publish the short story collection The Purple Pterodactyls…
…and the non-fiction collection The Ragged Edge of Science.
Finally, he was also revising and embellishing Robert E. Howard’s The Treasure of Tranicos.
(All of those last five books were published in 1980.)
Lance Bass (‘N Sync) was born (on 4 May).
Led Zeppelin released In Through the Out Door and performed its last concerts (until their 2007 reunion).
The following year would see the death of drummer John Bonham, leading to that band’s dissolution.
Lena Martell had a number one UK single, “One Day at a Time.”
Lene Lovich, who had recently had some success with her cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now”…
…released what would prove to be her biggest hit, the single “Lucky Number.”
Leonard Cohen released Recent Songs.
Linda Ronstadt was still enjoying massive success from her 1978 album Living in The USA…
…and recording Mad Love.
The Australian group Little River Band scored several US hits.
Lou Rawls released Let Me Be Good to You.
Dutch pop group Luv’ scored a few hit singles.
Lynne Hamilton scored a hit in the UK with her single “On the Inside.”
M, looking to capitalize on the success of their single “Pop Muzik,” released New York • London • Paris • Munich.
Macy Gray was born.
Madeleine L’Engle was preparing to publish her fourth Austin family novel, A Ring of Endless Light (1980).
The British ska band Madness released their debut album, One Step Beyond.
The immortal Mae West was nearing the end of her life (she would die on 22 November 1980).
