Michael J. Fox rocks a festival in a wheelchair
Michael J. Fox stood on stage with Chris Martin of Coldplay in 2016. At that time, he could still stand. At the Glastonbury Festival in 2022, the band brought out the Parkinson's disease-stricken Hollywood star in a wheelchair onto the stage. This moment was celebrated as a particularly emotional one.
On the second day of the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, Coldplay thrilled the crowd as headliners on stage. In front of around 100,000 people, the band played numerous hits like "Yellow," "The Scientist," and "Viva la Vida." It was the fifth time that Coldplay had headlined at the famous music festival - a feat unmatched by any other act. But the most memorable moment of the evening was likely Michael J. Fox's appearance.
The Hollywood star, who has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years, joined the band for two songs on stage. In his wheelchair and with a guitar in hand, Fox and Martin performed well-known Coldplay songs "Fix You" and "Humanity." Social media videos show an emotional audience reacting to the performance.
The British "Guardian" described the performance as "the kind of Glastonbury set that no one there will forget in a hurry, even if they didn't get teary-eyed." And the "BBC" stated, "Every Glastonbury needs a defining moment - and this felt like it for 2024."
Chris Martin announced on stage that Michael J. Fox was one of the "main reasons" why the band existed. "The main reason we're in a band is 'Back to the Future,' so thank you to our eternal heroes and one of the most wonderful people on earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox."
Back to the Future and the Formation of the Band
In the 1985 Sci-Fi film, Michael J. Fox played the lead role of Marty McFly. Chris Martin explained during an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in 2022 how the film "Back to the Future" led to the formation of his band. "I grew up in the countryside in England before the internet existed," he said.
He had only heard music on television and recorded it using a cassette recorder. The scene in "Back to the Future" where Michael J. Fox performs the Chuck Berry song "Johnny B. Goode" convinced him he wanted to be in a band.
Michael J. Fox had previously performed with Coldplay on stage. In 2016, he joined the band during a concert of the "A Head Full of Dreams Tour" in New York, before he needed a wheelchair.
- Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Michael J. Fox continued to show his love for music, joining Coldplay to perform Pop music hits like "Fix You" and "Humanity" during their headlining set at the Glastonbury Festival in England, celebrated for its unique blend of Cinema, Music, and Entertainment.
- Coldplay's performances at the Glastonbury Festival have become legendary, with their 2022 set featuring Chris Martin paying tribute to Michael J. Fox, citing his role in "Back to the Future" as the inspiration that led him to form the band and perform Pop music.
- As the wheels of Michael J. Fox's wheelchair moved on the Glastonbury Festival stage, the audience was reminded of the power of Hollywood, England's rich music scene, and the enduring impact of Cinema and Pop music on our lives, encapsulated in a single, emotional performance.
