Summary
Michael J. Fox emanatesBack to the Futurevibes as he performs alongside Chris Martin at a Coldplay concert. Fox is best known for playing Marty McFly in the 1985 filmBack to the Future. Also starring Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompon, and Crispin Glover, theRobert Zemeckis-directedfeature remains one of the most beloved films of its decade. It spawned two sequels, withBack to the Future Part IIin 1989 andBack to the Future Part IIIin 1990.
Now, a new video fromBBC MusicshowsFox performing with Coldplayin a Glastonbury concert.
The video starts with Coldplay’s lead singer singing an emotional beginning to the band’s classic song “Fix You.” After the audience was invited to sing along to the first chorus,Fox is welcomed on stage. He is sitting in a wheelchair, and holds an electric guitar. As the audience joins in for more “Fix You,” Fox strums along to the song. In an emotional conclusion, Martin thanks Fox and reveals thatBack to the Futureinspired him and the other members of Coldplay to form a band.
Fox’s Back To The Future Legacy Explained
Fox Is Universally Beloved
Within the “Fix You” performance, there is a directhomage toBack to the Futurewherein Martin starts singing the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B. Goode.” This is a reference to one ofBack to the Future’s most iconic moments, wherein Marty McFly goes on stage to sing the classic hit during the 1955 dance. In the film, Marty holds a red electric guitar as he plays. Fox recalls that performance in the “Fix You,” playing electric guitar again and offering an enthusiastic kick when the bass drops for the song.
While it is heartwarming to see a tribute toBack to the Futurein this way from Fox, the performance is particularly heart-wrenching knowing the full context ofFox’s career. Over a decade after the actor’s huge role inBack to the Future, the actor announced in 1998 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The actor has continued to be open about his battle with the illness andstarted the Michael J. Fox Foundationto raise money for disease research.
Fox’s philanthropic commitments in the wake of his Parkinson’s diagnosis has made the actor even more beloved. The actor’s journey with the disease was recently chronicled in the 2023 documentary filmStill: A Michael J. Fox Story, which emphasized Fox’s optimism in the face of his diagnosis. Fox’s role as a philanthropic figure has made him even more of an iconic legend beyondBack to the Future, which is recognized by everyone from Coldplay to mainstream audiences.
Back to the Future
Cast
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
