Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash was attacked onstage during a gig in Italy last week.

Video footage of the incident shows a man tackling Slash from behind while he played the guitar solo from the band's hit, 'Sweet Child O' Mine'.

Slash attempted to carry on performing after the incident, before stopping when he realised his guitar was broken.

He played down the attack, which took place in Milan, in a message to fans after the concert.

“It was a rowdy crowd for sure - but amazing," he wrote on Facebook afterwards. "The guy who nailed me didn't take me down but he busted my poor guitar.”

Slash went on to perform at the Download festival in Donington later in the week.

(by Jason Gregory)