The Montreux Casino in Switzerland is set ablaze by someone wielding a flare gun during a Frank Zappa concert; the incident would be immortalized in the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water”.

When it comes to legendary moments in music history, few events have had quite the same lasting impact as the fiery disaster that took place at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland back on December 7, 1971. That night, a Frank Zappa concert turned into an unforgettable scene that ultimately found its place in the annals of rock music, immortalized by Deep Purple in their iconic song “Smoke on the Water”.

As the story goes, a disconcerting chain of events began to unfold at the popular Montreux Casino during a concert headlined by American musician and composer Frank Zappa. Located within the scenic town of Montreux and known for hosting the famed Montreux Jazz Festival, the venue was packed with music lovers eagerly anticipating Zappa’s performance. Little did they know that the night would unfold into a chapter of music history itself.

In a moment of mindless recklessness, an audience member decided to light a flare gun inside the fully packed concert hall. The flare managed to reach the bamboo-covered ceiling of the casino, instantly setting it ablaze. The resulting inferno spread rapidly throughout the venue, causing panic and chaos among the concert attendees. Fortunately, all managed to escape the horrific spectacle, including Frank Zappa and his band, The Mothers of Invention. But the Montreux Casino, a beloved music venue, was reduced to a skeletal frame, its precious interior burnt beyond recognition.

At the time, rocking the hotel rooms of a near-by hotel were members of the British hard rock band, Deep Purple. They had come to Montreux to record an album using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, which was stationed at the casino. Witnessing the blaze from their hotel, they watched as the “smoke on the water” filled the air around Lake Geneva, where the casino was located.

Deeply moved by the spine-chilling incident, Deep Purple penned down what would become one of the most iconic rock songs in history – “Smoke on the Water”. Its opening riff has since become instantly recognizable, eliciting a wave of nostalgia and admiration for rock lovers worldwide. The lyrics document the bewildering series of events leading up to the casino’s destruction, and the subsequent effect it had on the band and the locale.

“We all came out to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva