A goosebump moment at Glastonbury: Headliner Coldplay brought Michael J. Fox on stage on Saturday, where he performed two songs in a wheelchair.
On the second day of the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, Coldplay enthralled the audience as the headlining act. In front of around 100,000 people, the band led by frontman Chris Martin, 47, delivered many of their hits including “Yellow,” “The Scientist,” and “Viva la Vida.” It marked Coldplay’s fifth time headlining the renowned music festival, a record unmatched by any other act. But the most touching moment of the evening came from actor Michael J. Fox, 63.
Michael J. Fox performs with Coldplay in a wheelchair
The Hollywood star, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease for many years, joined the band on stage for two songs. Seated in a wheelchair with a guitar in hand, Fox and Martin performed the well-known Coldplay songs “Fix You” and “Humankind.” Videos on social media show an emotional crowd joining in and celebrating the performance.
The British “Guardian” described it as: “Even if you didn’t shed a tear, Coldplay’s set was the kind of Glastonbury moment that none of those present will forget anytime soon.” And the “BBC” added: “Every Glastonbury needs a defining moment – and this felt like the one for 2024.”
Chris Martin explained on stage that Michael J. Fox was one of the “main reasons” why the band exists. “The main reason we’re a band is ‘Back to the Future,’ so thanks to our eternal hero and one of the most wonderful people on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox.”
Why Michael J. Fox is so significant to Coldplay
In the 1985 sci-fi film, Michael J. Fox played the lead role of Marty McFly. Chris Martin explained in 2022 on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” how “Back to the Future” inspired the formation of his band. “I grew up in the countryside in England before the internet existed,” he said. He listened to music on TV and recorded it with a cassette recorder. The scene where Michael J. Fox performs the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B. Goode” in “Back to the Future” convinced him that he wanted to be in a band.
This isn’t the first time Michael J. Fox has shared the stage with Coldplay. He previously joined the band in 2016 during a concert of the “A Head Full of Dreams Tour” in New York, albeit without a wheelchair.
