This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1979.

Newly formed bands

• Europe
• Gamma (maybe '78)
• Grimm Reaper
• Hanoi Rocks
• Jaguar
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Saint Vitus
• Trouble
• Venom

Albums

• AC/DC - Highway to Hell
• Accept - Accept
• Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts
• Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors
• Gamma - Gamma 1
• Iron Maiden - The Soundhouse Tapes (EP)
• Judas Priest - Hell Bent For Leather
• Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East (live album)
• Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
• Motörhead - On Parole (unofficial release from sessions recorded in 1975), Overkill, Bomber
• Queen - Live Killers
• KISS - Dynasty
• Saxon - Saxon
• UFO - Strangers In The Night
• Van Halen - Van Halen II
• Whitesnake - Lovehunter
• Scorpions - Lovedrive

Disbandments

Events

• Ozzy Osbourne is kicked out of Black Sabbath due to heavy involvement and problems with drugs and alcohol, his place is taken by Ronnie James Dio
• Matthias Jabs joins Scorpions replacing Ulrich Roth as lead guitarist