Guitarist Mike Scaccia has died at the age of 47.

The musician, who played in bands Ministry and Rigor Mortis, collapsed on stage at the Rail Club in Forth Worth, Texas, on Saturday night (22.12.12) at Rigor Mortis singer Bruce Corbitt's 50th birthday party.

Mike was rushed to hospital for treatment, however, he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Although the cause of death is as of yet unconfirmed, it is believed Scaccia either suffered a heart attack caused by heart disease or from a strobe light-induced seizure.

Bruce wrote a statement on his Facebook page following the announcement of his friend and bandmate's death.

It read: ''My brother is gone! The only reason I am who I am is because of this man. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't even be in a band. RIP Mike Scaccia! The greatest guitar player I ever knew!''

Al Jourgensen, the frontman of Mike's other band Ministry, has been left devastated by his death.

In an emotional post on the Ministry website, Al told fans: ''I just lost my lil' brother and my best friend - the 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered. Mikey was not only the best guitar player in the history of music, but he was a close, close, close part of our family - and I just lost a huge chunk of my heart today.

''Our lives are forever changed. Life without Mikey is like orange juice without pulp - kind of bland. I have no words to express what this guy meant to me, my family, my career ... Everything! (sic)''

Mike, who was born in Babylon, New York, formed the thrash metal band Rigor Mortis in 1983 and was invited by Al to join Ministry six years later.

Ministry's best commercial release was 1992's 'Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs', which features their classic metal singles 'N.W.O' and 'Jesus Built My Hotrod'.

Mike also played in bands the Revolting Cocks, Lard and Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters.