On this day in music history: January 16, 1980 - Paul McCartney is arrested in Tokyo, Japan for possession of an illegal substance. Scheduled to begin an eleven date concert tour with Wings running from January 21 - February 2, 1980, McCartney and his family arrive at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, five days ahead to settle in before the tour begins. Japanese customs agents search the McCartney’s luggage and find nearly a half pound of marijuana hidden in a suitcase, and in the hood of one of their children. Paul is arrested, handcuffed and questioned by agents for over an hour before he is taken to jail. The tour is canceled, and McCartney ends up spending ten days in jail before he is released and deported from the country with the charges being dropped.  In the interim, reggae legend Lee “Scratch” Perry takes it upon himself to write a letter to the Japanese Minister Of Justice on McCartney’s behalf extolling the virtues of marijuana, and asking the government to pardon him.  Wings band mate Denny Laine chronicles the incident in the song “Japanese Tears” which he records for a solo album in 1980. As a result of the arrest, Paul McCartney is not able to acquire a visa to travel to or tour Japan again until March of 1990, for the world tour in support of the “Flowers In The Dirt” album.  

Golly gee! Who was surprised?