Coldplay's Chris Martin reveals poignant reason he brought 'amazing' Michael J. Fox on stage during band's historic Glastonbury set amid the actor's battle with Parkinson's

Glastonbury fans were left in tears when Michael J. Fox made a surprise appearance on stage with Coldplay on Saturday.

The Back To The Future actor, 63, played the guitar from his wheelchair, amid his battle with Parkinson's, with frontman Chris Martin, 47, poignantly crediting him for being the 'main reason' the group existed. 

It was a huge milestone moment for Coldplay as they made history by becoming the first group to headline Glastonbury five times.

After Michael joined them in a renditions of their hits Fix You and Humankind, Chris told the crowd: 'The main reason why we're in a band is because of watching Back to the Future,' 

He continued: 'So thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr Michael J. Fox. Thank you so much, Michael'. 

Chris previously spoke about how seeing Michael on guitar playing Johnny B. Goode in one iconic scene from 1985's Back To The Future was his inspiration to become a musician. 

Telling Kelly Clarkson on her chat show in 2022: 'That's what made me want to be in a band, you know? That scene, yeah'. 

Michael previously appeared with the band during their 2016 concert in New York and played songs from Back To The Future.

Chris said: 'Michael J. Fox came and played two of the songs from Back to the Future with us. That was really wonderful'.

'Him coming to play Johnny B. Goode and stuff, that was wonderful.' 

Michael's 2016 appearance was a request from Chris' then ten-year-old Moses, with the video of the lad being played to the audience.

In it he said: 'I was just wondering if you could play a song from both of our favourite movies, Back To The Future. I love you so much,'

His latest appearance saw the Glastonbury cameras search the crowd, with serenading Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, before the beloved Hollywood actor was revealed to the audience.

Chris sung: 'Here is another legendary Michael, one who just totally rocks, with his chuck Berry quiff and the way he punched [Back To The Future villain] Biff, ladies and Gentleman please welcome Michael J.Fox'.

The actor, who is an avid musician and famously played the guitar in the iconic 1985 sci-fi movie, was first diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at just 30 years of age in 1991, before revealing the news publicly in 1998.

Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. 

The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. 

Two years after going public with his diagnosis, Michael created The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.

Since then, the foundation - which he founded with his wife of 36 years, Tracy Pollan - has raised over $2 billion for Parkinson's research.

Viewers were left in 'tears' following his surprise appearance as he joined the group in a rendition of their hit Fix You. 

Viewers were left in 'tears' following his surprise appearance and raced to X formerly Twitter.

Writing: 'Michael J Fox joined Coldplay on stage oh my god': 'I love that Chris Martin from Coldplay brought Michael J Fox on stage, love Coldplay': 'Coldplay rocking Glastonbury and then bringing out Michael J. Fox will be the best thing I see all year': 'Michael J. Fox on stage with Coldplay at Glastonbury, great to see'.

'Coldplay, wow just wow. What a show and Michael J. Fox, don't tell me you weren't in tears': 'Blown away by the selfless perfomance by Coldplay at Glastonbury a celebration and reminder of hope in our world. Brining on Michael J Fox truly beautiful': 'Michael J Fox bless his heart on stage with Coldplay'.

The show was watched by a whopping crowd of 100,000 plus  including Hollywood stars Tom Cruise, 61, Simon Pegg, 54, and Gillian Anderson, 55.

Michael J Fox's 30-year battle with Parkinson's 

Michael J Fox was just 29 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, a life-changing condition for which there is still no cure.

Now aged 63, the Back to the Future star has spent a lifetime raising awareness and backing the funding of vital research through his foundation.

But Fox kept his condition secret for several years before going public. 

Fox, already an icon in his late 20s, developed a tremor in 1991 while filming Doc Hollywood. A consultation revealed he had young-onset Parkinson's.

Parkinson's tends to affect older people; the most common group in the UK (2020) was between 70 and 79. But some can be affected much younger.

Fox kept his condition private while working on other films and through the births of his twin daughters. Then, in 2000, he left award-winning Spin City when he 'realised that he could no longer hide' his condition.

The young actor retired from full-time acting to focus on his advocacy and fundraising, founding the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research that year. 

Parkinson¿s affects one in 500 people. It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and there is currently no cure.

In the UK alone, there are around 153,000 people already living with the condition, and 1 in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed in their lifetime. 

We do not yet know exactly what causes Parkinson's - but researchers believe it is related to factors including age, genetics, environment that affect the production of the hormone dopamine.

There are more than 40 associated symptoms but Parkinson's affects people differently.

Common symptoms include slowness of movement, tremors, stiffness, fatigue and depression. 

Michael J Fox's foundation is currently exploring new medications and therapies aimed at reducing symptoms and helping affected people live more comfortable lives.

And scientists have come closer to finding a cure by uncovering the link to genetics and understanding the sequence of events that leads to the loss of brain cells, advancing the condition.

Source: parkinsons.org.uk ; www.michaeljfox.org/

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