Morning fire does heavy damage to Georgia Theater in Athens

A fire was spotted in the historic Georgia Theater in Athens, Ga. at 7 a.m. on June 19. Lifestyle reports that by the time the fire was reported, smoke was already billowing from the theater's front doors. The chief of the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department said that it likely started on the second floor before breaking through the roof, which later collapsed. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, although the Athens Banner-Herald reports that the air conditioning was left on overnight. The theater sustained extensive damage, but owner Wilmot Greene says that he plans to rebuild.

The Georgia Theater is known for its history of early concerts by alternative rock bands such as R.E.M., the B-52s, Hootie and the Blowfish, the Police, and the Indigo Girls. According to CNN, the building was known as a cornerstone of the alternative scene, and the B-52s once paid the theater to let them play there.

The band Perceptual Groove, which was scheduled to play at Georgia Theater on Friday and Saturday, will now be giving a benefit concert for the theater at the Classic Center on Saturday. In order to help the landmark theater, the Classic Center will not be charging the cost of rent on the tickets so that as much money as possible will go to help its reconstruction.