1981
- 03/01/81 Joe Strummer (then of The Clash)
- 10/01/81 Trans Europe Express cover (music in Eastern Europe)
- 17/01/81 Wah! Heat
- 24/01/81 NME 1980 Poll Winners
- 31/01/81 C81 tape offer
- 07/02/81 The Police
- 14/02/81 Bono of U2
- 21/02/81 Roots reggae
- 28/02/81 Marvin Gaye
- 07/03/81 Richard Jobson
- 14/03/81 John Lydon
- 21/03/81 Jap Payback - issue on Japanese music
- 28/03/81 Madness
- 04/04/81 Michael Jackson
- 11/04/81 Popeye
- 18/04/81 The Scars
- 25/04/81 The Polecats
- 02/05/81 Girlschool
- 09/05/81 Clare Grogan of Altered Images and Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice
- 16/05/81 Bob Marley memorial issue
- 23/05/81 The Beat
- 30/05/81 The Treacherous Three (Rap issue)
- 06/06/81 Prince
- 13/06/81 Julian Cope of The Teardrop Explodes
- 20/06/81 James Chance
- 27/06/81 Defunkt
- 04/07/81 Kid Creole
- 11/07/81 Southall riots
- 18/07/81 ABC
- 25/07/81 Grace Jones
- 01/08/81 Spandau Ballet
- 08/08/81 The Specials
- 15/08/81 Bob Dylan
- 22/08/81 Depeche Mode
- 29/08/81 Blue Rondo a la Turk
- 05/09/81 Madness
- 12/09/81 Soft Cell
- 19/09/81 Kim Wilde
- 26/09/81 Sting
- 03/10/81 Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow
- 10/10/81 The Clash
- 17/10/81 Jello Biafra of The Dead Kennedys
- 24/10/81 British youth
- 31/10/81 Scritti Politti
- 07/11/81 Rik Mayall
- 14/11/81 Mark E. Smith of The Fall
- 21/11/81 Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire
- 28/11/81 D.A.F.
- 05/12/81 Elvis Presley
- 12/12/81 Coronation Street
- 19/12/81 Meat Loaf
Read more about this topic: List Of NME Covers