Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry rushed to hospital after performing 'Walk This Way' at Billy Joel concert

Musician remains in hospital where he is 'alert and responsive', a representative said

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has been taken to hospital after he collapsed following a surprise appearance at Billy Joel's Madison Square Garden concert in New York.

According to TMZ, the rock musician collapsed in his dressing room after performing Aerosmith's song "Walk This Way" with Joel and his band.

Paramedics reportedly attended to Perry in his dressing room before he was "rushed to a New York hospital".

A representative told Rolling Stone: "Following a guest performance during Billy Joel's show last night at Madison Square Garden, Joe Perry experienced shortness of breath and was treated backstage by paramedics who gave the guitarist oxygen and used a tracheal tube to clear his airway before taking him to hospital."

"This morning Perry remains in the hospital where he is alert and responsive," they continued. "The Aerosmith guitarist will be unable to appear today at Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in Florida and apologises to those attending. Perry is expected to return to the road later this month."

The incident took place two years after Perry lost consciousness and collapsed backstage during a Hollywood Vampires concert in Coney Island, New York. While "dehydration and exhaustion" were blamed on his collapse, his bandmate Steven Tyler expressed concern.

"It's starting to scare me a little bit," he said. "I know my brother. He's just about the only other guy who's as passionate about his art as I am. He's always asking me to do three, four [Aerosmith] shows in a row, and I can't. I'll blow my voice out. I know how to maintain my career, my health, and Joe's passionate. I don't think he knows how to. I think he's out there and someone's overbooking me."

Perry is currently scheduled to embark on a solo tour on 30 November. Aerosmith's Las Vegas residency is set to launch in April next year.