Glastonbury 2024: Michael J. Fox plays guitar for Coldplay amid Parkinson’s battle
During their headline set at Glastonbury Festival on June 29th, Coldplay were joined by a very special guest, Michael J. Fox. With a Red Stratocaster in arms, the wheelchair-bound actor joined the band on stage as they performed the ‘Humankind’ and ‘Fix You’.
During their extensive headline set on the Pyramid Stage, Coldplay had some tough acts to follow, thanks to the likes of Dua Lipa bringing out Kevin Parker. However, they trounced all by bringing out Back to the Future star for ‘Humankind’ from 2021’s Music of the Spheres.
After toasting Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis, during a long, improvised ‘The Jumbotron Song’, Martin said startled: “Hold on, wait a minute, zoom in, zoom in, c’mon, who’s that… wait, wait what? Can we have some more light please, on Michael, hold on.”
“Well, here’s another legendary Michael, one who just totally rocks, with his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Michael J. Fox,” Martin sang, referencing the Back to the Future series, before Coldplay jumped into the euphoric ‘Humankind’. It was an emotional moment for everybody. Fox looked overjoyed at what unfolded.
It was the undisputed highlight of their eclectic set, which also featured famous hits such as the opener ‘Yellow’ and ‘Paradise’. Frontman Chris Martin and the rest of the band were triumphant, as Fox, who has battled Parkinson’s disease since diagnosis in 1991, brought a tearjerking moment to the end stages of their performance, which was received by a passionate applause by the enormous audience. They then played the melancholic ‘Fix You’, and after Martin said, “Thank you to our hero forever,” to Fox.
Last November, Fox revealed to Town and Country that he is no longer afraid of death after spending half his life with the crippling disease. The former actor was asked if anything scares him anymore. “Anything that would put my family in jeopardy,” Fox replied, referring to his wife, Tracy Pollan and their four children.
When questioned whether he fears his own mortality, Fox answered: “One day, I’ll run out of gas. One day, I’ll just say, ‘It’s not going to happen. I’m not going out today.’ If that comes, I’ll allow myself that. I’m 62 years old.”
“Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that,” he added.
Watch Coldplay be joined by Michael J. Fox at Glastonbury below.
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