( CNN ) -- A bit of music history was lost Friday morning when flames gutted the Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia . The Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia , smolders after firefighters put out a morning blaze . The 19th-century building was a cornerstone in the alternative rock music scene that gave the world the B-52s , R.E.M . and the Indigo Girls , said Doc Eldridge , president of the local Chamber of Commerce . The theater , in downtown Athens near the University of Georgia campus , suffered heavy damage from the fire , which was discovered at 7 a.m. , according to Athens-Clarke County government spokeswoman Sandy Turner . `` The facade is still there , but it 's very bad , '' she said . `` From the big names to the no names , countless of musicians and groups have left their mark on the Athens music scene from the stage of the Georgia Theatre , '' Eldridge said . iReport : Photos of theater burning . Sheffy McArthur was a University of Georgia student when he and two friends converted the movie theater into a music venue in 1978 . `` The B-52s paid us to play there , imagine that , '' McArthur said . Sea Level , a blues-jazz-rock group that grew from the remnants of the Allman Brothers Band , played the first show in the theater in January 1978 , McArthur said . It became the place `` for alternative music , instead of cover-type stuff for real artists to play , '' he said . Wilmont Greene took over the theater five years ago and began renovations . R.E.M. , which formed in Athens in 1980 and became one of the first popular alternative bands , played in the 600-seat theater in the group 's early days . In recent years , the theater served as host for album release parties and benefit shows by R.E.M. , which is based in a building just down the street . `` All of us here certainly wish Wilmont Greene and his staff the best of luck and Godspeed in their efforts to rebuild the Athens landmark , '' an R.E.M . statement said .
Georgia Theatre in Athens , Georgia , gutted by fire Friday morning . Historic theater known for playing host to notable bands , including R.E.M . Theater was the place `` for alternative music , '' said first owner .