Fans of popular Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele were upset Tuesday when access to his remains was reportedly cut off before they had an opportunity to pay their respects to the artist who died suddenly at age 59.
Fans carrying cards and flowers had queued outside Rome's Sant'Eugenio hospital, where Daniele died late Sunday night of a heart attack, to see the body being held there before Wednesday's funeral.
But they said public access had been abruptly cut off, triggering anger and complaints.
Authorities said they had closed the area to allow private time for family and close friends of the celebrated singer-songwriter.
They, in turn, complained that some had taken photos of Daniele's corpse and posted these on the Internet.
"It is a very ugly thing, a lack of respect," said musician Enzo Gragnaniello, a friend of Daniele.
"It is a sacrilege for any Catholic," he added. Disappointed fans, including some who came hundreds of kilometers to say goodbye to the musician, complained about limited access.
One man said that because Daniele was a public figure, allowing public access to the morgue "is the price they must pay for fame".
A memorial was planned for 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in Naples' Piazza del Plebiscito, ahead of Wednesday's funeral at Rome's Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love.
That will be eventually followed by burial in the Tuscan area of Maremma.
Before burial, however, a spokesman for Daniele said that his ashes will be taken to the singer's hometown of Naples for public memorials, "to receive the final embrace of his fellow citizens".
Tributes flowed while fans and family grieved Monday after the news broke of Daniele's death from heart problems that his cardiologist said were well known to the artist.
"(He) was hanging on by a thread and he knew it. Every day of life was a day gained," said cardiologist Achille Gaspardone, who told ANSA he felt "great sadness" at his patient's death. Daniele built up on music of his idols, from Jeff Beck to Frank Zappa and Carlos Santana, adding his particular Neapolitan twist to blend of rock, jazz and blues.
One of his greatest successes came with the 1980 album Nero a Metà, and after that, he performed as the opening act for Bob Marley in 1980 in Naples.
He also performed with such rock music giants as Eric Clapton.
Fans said that Daniele will remain a symbol of Naples but also was the force behind a musical revolution in Italy, beginning with his 1977 album Terra Mia.
On his Twitter account, singer Jovanotti wrote: "Goodbye, Pino, goodbye to a man who made great music, a generous friend, and a great artist".
Added Edoardo Bennato: "Farewell, Pino. We have lost a great musician and I have lost a friend".
On his Facebook page Luciano Ligabue wrote: "Goodbye, Pino, and thank you. Once more, I embrace you".
Under his message, the musician added a photo of himself with Daniele and their guitars in an embrace.
Daniele had been rushed to hospital in Rome in critical condition after a heart attack Sunday night, but efforts to save him failed.
The singer had apparently began to feel ill while at his isolated vacation home in the countryside near Orbetello in the Maremma region of Tuscany.
At about 9:15 p.m. local time, an ambulance with a doctor was sent out and about 10 minutes was lost clarifying the address of Daniele's farmhouse, sources said.
By the time he arrived in hospital in Rome, he was in critical condition and died soon after.
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