Michael J. Fox made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury Festival, joining Coldplay on stage during their performance of “Fix You.” Despite being in a wheelchair, Fox played guitar, creating a memorable and touching moment spotlighted by Chris Martin.
“The main reason we’re in a band is because of watching ‘Back to the Future,'” he 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.”
Michael J. Fox has made multiple appearances with Coldplay, including playing “Johnny B. Goode” in 2016.
Chris Martin shared with Kelly Clarkson in 2022 that watching Fox perform the Chuck Berry song in the movie “Back to the Future” inspired him to pursue music.
“That’s what made me want to be in a band, you know? That scene,” he said.
Fox also posted a tribute to the band saying, “This is @coldplay’s time.”
“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,” he wrote on Instagram. “Oh yeah in case you were wondering…it was f*cking mind blowing.”
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29 in 1991. He has been open about his ongoing battle with the neurological disorder, discussing injuries he has sustained from balance issues in a recent interview.
Parkinson’s disease causes symptoms like stiffness, tremors, and coordination difficulties, which progress over time according to the National Institutes of Health.
Fox also reflected on his long journey with Parkinson’s in a recent interview.
“It’s been 30-plus years; not many of us that have had this disease for 30 years,” he said. “It sucks having Parkinson’s.”
Since publicly revealing his illness in 1998, Michael J. Fox has been actively involved in raising funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.
He discovered that Parkinson’s research and treatment were underfunded, leading him to establish the nonprofit Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.
The foundation has successfully raised over $1.5 billion for Parkinson’s research, as stated on its website, supporting efforts to advance treatment and find a cure for the disease.
