British rock band Coldplay rocked out fan-favorite tunes at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, but the highlight of their set was when frontman Chris Martin brought out actor Michael J. Fox to join him on stage for a surprise appearance.
Fox held a guitar while in a wheelchair and accompanied the band in performing the touching ballad "Fix You" from Coldplay's third studio album, X&Y.
The performance struck an emotional chord and elicited tears from the crowd of more than 200,000 festivalgoers at the five-day event held near Pilton, Somerset, England.
Martin thanked festival co-creator Michael Eavis before introducing the Back to the Future actor onto the stage.
“Here’s another legendary Michael. One who just totally rocks. With his Chuck Berry riff, and the way he punched Biff," said Martin, referring to Fox's Back to the Future character, Marty McFly.
He continued:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Michael J. Fox.”
You can watch their performance of "Fix You" here.
Coldplay - Fix You (Glastonbury 2024)youtu.be
After the song, Martin told the crowd:
"The main reason we're in a band is because of watching 'Back to the Future."
"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."
Following the special appearance, Fox took to his socials to thank his team, the Glastonbury staff, and members of Coldplay.
The 63-year-old continued:
"Oh yeah in case you were wondering…it was f*cking mind blowing."
"There is a time for every band and a band for every time."
"This is @coldplay’s time."
Users grabbed some Kleenex.
"Fix You" was written in 2005.
The sentimental ballad was started by Martin to comfort his then-wife, actor Gwyneth Paltrow, whom he met in late 2002 three weeks after her father, television director Bruce Paltrow, died.
This wasn't the first time Fox performed with Coldplay on stage.
In 2016, the actor joined the band to play Chuck Berry's 1958 rock classic "Johnny B. Goode," which Marty McFly plays after a climactic scene at the end of Back to the Future.
Here's a clip of the performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey from July 17, 2016.
Johnny B. Goode (Live in NY w/ Michael J. Fox)youtu.be
Watching the scene from the 1985 classic film was a pivotal moment in Martin's life and made him want to become a musician.
He told Kelly Clarkson in a 2022 interview:
"That's what made me want to be in a band, you know? That scene."
In 1991 at the age of 29, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that causes unintended movement, stiffness, and loss of balance.
The retired actor has been vocal about his battle with Parkinson's ever since, including in a recent Varietyinterview in which he recounted his injuries as a result of having Parkinson's.
"I broke this shoulder—had it replaced. I broke this elbow. I broke this hand. I had an infection that almost cost me this finger. I broke my face. I broke this humerus," he told the media outlet.
Fox said that in addition to managing his illness over the years, he has struggled with personal losses and mental health struggles.
He said:
"I have aides around me quite a bit of the time in case I fall, and that lack of privacy is hard to deal with. I lost family members, I lost my dog, I lost freedom, I lost health."
"I hesitate to use the term 'depression,' because I'm not qualified to diagnose myself, but all the signs were there."
Fox noted that having the support of family members has been essential in helping him deal with his health struggles.
Said Fox:
"I just enjoy the little math problems of existence."
"I love waking up and figuring that stuff out and at the same time being with my family."
Fox is featured in the 2023 documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which recounts the actor's incredible story in his own words using documentary, archival, and scripted elements.
The film can be viewed with a subscription to the Apple+ streaming service.
On October 4, Coldplay will celebrate their return to music with their anticipated release of the band's tenth studio album, Moon Music.