1981 in heavy metal music

	… 1971; 1972; 1973; 1974; 1975; 1976; 1977; ; 1978; 1979; 1980; 1981; 1982; 1983; 1984; ; 1985; 1986; 1987; 1988; 1989; 1990; 1991 …;
	Art; Archaeology; Architecture; Literature; Music; Philosophy; Science; +...

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1981.