PLANS have been submitted to demolish the O2 ABC music venue after the building was badly damaged in the Glasgow School of Art fire.
The building, which is actually older than the Mackintosh Building and during its 143-year-old history has been a diorama theatre, a circus, a dancehall and a cinema, was wrecked in the blaze in June.
Now Glasgow City Council has confirmed that a building warrant has been submitted to demolish the "extensively fire damaged building in entirety".
As many including the Scottish Music Industry Association, which jointly organises the annual Scottish Album of the Year Award, mourned the news, a council spokesman said it was by no means a given that permission would be given for the demolition of the listed building.
"It has been said that it is a fait accompli that the building is going to be demolished," said a council spokesman.
"We have only just received an application it has to be validated then it has to go to committee and as it is a listed building, we have to talk to Historic Scotland. There is a whole process to go through before any decision is reached on it."
READ MORE: Plans to demolish O2 ABC after Glasgow School of Art fire
Bands and fans alike registered their devastation at seeing footage and pictures of the destruction of the distinctive turquoise roof of the Sauchiehall Street venue last summer.
The Academy Music Group, which has not been discussing the future of the O2 ABC, did confirm gigs planned for the venue in the wake of the fire featuring the likes of Teenage Fan Club, Shaun Ryder's Black Grape, House of Love and Ash were to be moved, with some rescheduled.
The SMIA said: "We are incredibly saddened to hear the news that plans have been submitted for O2 ABC Glasgow's demolition after last year's The Glasgow School of Art fire tragedy.
"It goes without saying that many of us have had some memorable nights there with some of our favourite artists from around the world and it will be such a shame to see it go."
Amidst the mourning, there was also anger.
Alex McGhie lodged his complaint on the venue's Facebook page saying: "Furious at the application to demolish the O2 ABC Glasgow. Clearly its status as an iconic and still important venue meant little when the opportunity for the select few to profit came calling.
"Almost 150 years of history eradicated... No consideration of options has been made public. How short-sighted. The soulless, culturally devoid ignoramuses have won. And Sauchiehall Street, already a delapidated shell of its former self, takes another massive hit."
It first opened as the Diorama in 1875 and featured a canvas of paintings which told the story of the Battle of Waterloo.
For much of the first quarter of the 20th century, it was home to Hengler's Circus, before it became a dancehall, and then became an ABC cinema for 70 years.
READ MORE: Plans to demolish O2 ABC after Glasgow School of Art fire
The last movie was shown in October, 1999, before the buidling was converted into a music venue with a pub and restaurants.
The Academy Music Group were approached for comment.
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