Timeline February 1979

Events in February 1979 8

• 1894 – 1979 Jean Renoir (1894-1979) Died 12 February 1979, aged 84 French film director Jean Renoir, son of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and maker of classics including La Grande Illusion and The Rules of the Game, died in Beverly Hills. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors in cinema history. He died on 12 February 1979.
• 1957 – 1979 Sid Vicious (1957-1979) Died 2 February 1979, aged 21 Sid Vicious, bassist for the punk band the Sex Pistols, died of a heroin overdose in New York City while awaiting trial for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. His short, chaotic career made him one of punk rock's most notorious figures. He died on 2 February 1979.
• 1979 Bo Diddley opens for The Clash US tour The punk band picks him as support.
• 1979 The Allman Brothers Band reunite Enlightened Rogues A first reunion that lasts until 1982.
• 1979 Islamic Revolution The monarchy falls; an Islamic republic is founded In 1979 mass protests forced the Shah to flee, and Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to lead the establishment of an Islamic Republic — ending some 2,500 years of Persian monarchy. The revolution reshaped Iran's politics and society and transformed the geopolitics of the Middle East.
• 1979 – present Valentino Rossi The Doctor One of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships.
• 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War China invades Vietnam over the Cambodia conflict China launched a punitive invasion of Vietnam on 17 February 1979 in response to Vietnam's overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, a Chinese ally. Fighting lasted about a month along the border before Chinese forces withdrew on 16 March 1979, both sides claiming victory. The brief but bloody war caused tens of thousands of casualties.
• 1979 Yemenite War of 1979 Brief border war between North and South Yemen North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of Yemen) fought a short border war from late February to March 1979. Arab League mediation produced a ceasefire and renewed talk of unification between the two states. The rivalry between the two Yemens continued until they finally unified in 1990.