A major fire erupted Friday at the Georgia Theatre, an Athens landmark and center of the local music scene, police said. Witnesses on the scene said the fire, which began around 7 a.m., was a major blaze and that the theater would likely suffer major damage.

The Georgia Theatre, a converted cinema, has served as a music venue for many well known Athens bands, including REM and the B-52s.

This is heartbreaking. HOW?!