Michael J. Fox’s guitar from Back to the Future is “missing,” he revealed in his new memoir, Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum.
“In the decades since the movie’s release, the guitar used in ‘Johnny B. Goode’ has grown more important for what it isn’t than what it is,” Fox, 64, wrote in the book, which was released on Tuesday, October 14. “What it isn’t is available.”
One scene in the 1985 movie featured Fox’s character, Marty McFly, playing Chuck Berry‘s song while playing a red guitar. The instrument’s location is not confirmed. (Fox’s memoir is a love letter to his most well-known role.)
“I wish I could claim to possess it, but I didn’t have the foresight to know how valuable it would become,” Fox wrote. “Somebody did, though, and whether it’s in their active collection or stashed in their attic or home studio, they’re not speaking up. Perhaps they’re waiting for the statute of limitations on vintage guitar theft to expire.”
Fox explained to readers that “collectible guitars are demanding exorbitant prices,” and the price for his particular instrument — a Gibson ES-345 — “is huge.”
The actor wrote that Gibson has actually “taken up the search” for the missing guitar.
“Even going so far as to sponsor a documentary film chronicling the quest to find my famous red rock and roll machine,” he wrote. “They haven’t found it yet; the documentary’s eventual release is linked to the existential discovery and retrieval. We’ll keep you posted.”
The scene that featured the now-missing guitar took place after Marty goes back in time and attends a 1955 school dance. (Watch the movie, if you’re confused.)
“This is my favorite scene in the movie — obviously. It represents dreams coming to fruition; me doing for me what Marty did for himself,” Fox recalled. “What was happening in my life at that moment was no less transformative than what was happening in Marty’s.”
On screen, Marty “is giving the performance of his life” — and in a way, so was Fox.
“He literally saves the world with his guitar,” the actor continued, elsewhere noting that he “worked harder” on this scene than any other in the movie.
“The dilemma for the filmmakers is that the ‘Johnny B. Goode’ scene isn’t truly necessary. Not only does Marty’s performance fail to progress the plot, it arguably interrupts the plot,” he wrote, revealing that the scene was just “for pure joy” before daring readers to revisit the movie and get through that moment “without smiling.”
“The scene adds a time travel joke, shocking the 1950s teenagers with the kind of music their kids will someday adore. It also releases the pressure from the preceding scenes,” he added. “Tensions resolved; now let’s have some fun.”
Filming the musical moment even let the crew — especially director Robert Zemeckis — have some fun.
“Months later, he shared with me that the days spent on this scene were the most fun he had on the movie,” he wrote. “Mission accomplished. I was pleased that he was pleased (no, I was thrilled that he was pleased).”
Future Boy is out now.
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