Michael J. Fox is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood.
He still finds a way to surprise audiences despite his setbacks.
And Michael J. Fox shocked fans when he made his return to the stage.
Michael J. Fox makes a surprise appearance on stage at a British music festival
Actor Michael J. Fox shocked the audience at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom when he performed on stage with the rock band Coldplay.
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin welcomed him to the stage before their song “Humankind.”
“With his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff: ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Michael J. Fox,” Martin said.
The Back to the Future star came out in a wheelchair and played the guitar with the band during their song “Fix You.”
Martin credited Fox after the song for the creation of the band.
“The main reason we’re in a band is because of watching Back to the Future,” Martin said. “Thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox. Thank you so much Michael, our hero.”
Fox had played with the British rock band when they performed in the United States before.
In 2016, he joined them on stage during their concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
They played the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B. Goode,” which Fox’s character played in Back to the Future.
Martin told talk show host Kelly Clarkson in 2022 that watching Fox playing “Johnny B. Goode” convinced him to make music his career.
“That’s what made me want to be in a band, you know? That scene,” Martin said at the time.
Fox posted a tribute to Coldplay after his performance at the Glastonbury Festival.
“This is [Coldplay’s] time,” Fox wrote.
“Glastonbury all the love and thanks to the [Coldplay] team who took such great care of us. And many thanks to Chris, Will, Johnny, Guy and Phil,” Fox wrote on Instagram. “Oh yeah in case you were wondering…it was f***ing mind blowing.”
Thank you Michael J. Fox for making our dream come true 🩵 pic.twitter.com/ahzOzGaP5J
— Coldplay (@coldplay) June 30, 2024
Michael J. Fox’s big musical scene in Back in the Future almost never happened
Fox spent four weeks learning how to play guitar for the scene where he plays the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B. Goode” in Back to the Future.
And the movie’s choreographer taught him moves from rock stars like The Who’s Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix to help him sell the performance.
Fox’s character Marty McFly joins the band, the Starlighters, to play guitar at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.
He shocks the high school audience by playing “Johnny B. Goode” who had never heard rock and roll before.
But the iconic scene almost didn’t happen.
Chuck Berry refused to give the filmmakers permission to use the song in the movie until the day before the scene was filmed.
He ended up being paid $50,000 for the rights to his song.
That performance ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the movie.
