WATCH: Michael J. Fox joins Coldplay on stage to play the guitar for 'Fix You'
Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox joined Coldplay to play the guitar during the rock band's set at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom.
Variety reported that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, before launching into the song Humankind, freestyled lyrics to point out members of the crowd, which included Fox.
“With his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff: ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Michael J. Fox,” Martin said, in reference to Back to the Future which launched Fox to fame.
Fox, 63, was in a wheelchair and stuck around to perform Fix You with the band.
“The main reason we’re in a band is because of Back to the Future,” Martin said after the performance. “So thank you to Michael, our hero.”
In 1991, when he was just 29, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements.
According to the United States' National Institute on Aging, symptoms happen when neurons, which produce dopamine or "happy hormones," become impaired and/or die. The lower dopamine levels lead to the movement problems associated with Parkinson's. Scientists still do not know what causes the neurons to die.
Usually beginning gradually and worsening over time, the main symptoms include:
- Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
- Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
- Slowness of movement
- Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
Other symptoms include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems; and skin problems.
Parkinson's has no cure, though medicines and therapy can help relieve some symptoms.
Despite his diagnosis, the coming years still saw Fox in different roles, including political comedy Spin City, animated comedy franchise Stuart Little, and sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show. He also had supporting roles in television shows The Good Wife, Designated Survivor, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Fox retired from acting in 2020.
Coldplay, composed of Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion, is known for hits including Yellow, The Scientist, Fix You, A Sky Full of Stars, Viva La Vida, Something Just Like This, and Adventure of a Lifetime.
The band recently announced that its 10th studio album, Moon Music, is out on Oct. 4.