Latest news with #GibsonFilms
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Huey Lewis joins search for missing ‘Back to the Future' guitar, talks hearing loss
Huey Lewis is lending a hand in recovering Marty McFly's iconic guitar from 'Back to the Future.' Various stars of the 1985 science-fiction film have united to support an international effort to uncover the whereabouts of the cherry red ES-345 guitar that McFly played 'Johnny B. Goode' on in honor of the film's 40th anniversary. Gibson, the guitar's manufacturer, is leading the effort and enlisted the Huey Lewis and the News singer, who made music for the film and had an on-screen cameo, along with others such as franchise stars Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd and Harry Waters Jr., for a call to action video released Tuesday, June 3. 'Well, it's pretty amazing, really. I mean, to think about what it might be worth, right?' Lewis told People Magazine. 'So whoever's got this thing, wherever it is. I mean, forget the actual guitar and the financial thing, there's a great story there, obviously.' He also speculated that since there were several guitar techs on set, 'maybe somebody fell on hard times and had to sell it.' 'Who knows what that story is,' Lewis continued. 'But it's fairly interesting and apparently, because of the frets, it will be identifiable' Those with information about the guitar's location can submit tips online at or by calling 1-855-345-1955. Meanwhile, Gibson Films is working on a documentary about the search, featuring interviews with cast members and musicians that have been inspired by 'Back to the Future,' including Lewis. The Grammy-winning musician wrote and performed the hit song 'The Power of Love' for the film, but has since retired from live performances after announcing that he suffers from significant hearing loss due to Ménière's disease in 2018. During a recent conversation with People Magazine, Lewis shared a positive outlook on the diagnosis. 'This is my cross to bear. I have a cochlear implant in my head that now enables me to hear speech much better,' he said, noting that he still can't hear music. 'I'm still a lucky guy and there are lots of people out there worse than I am. And it is very hard to remember that sometimes, but my kids help me do that. … You have to rebalance and things, but it doesn't mean that life is terrible.' Though he's not able to enjoy music the way he used to, Lewis' disease hasn't stopped him. In 2020, Huey Lewis and the News put out its first new project in 19 years, ' Weather,' which was recorded around five to six years prior to Lewis' hearing loss. He also devoted time to the jukebox musical, ' The Heart of Rock and Roll,' centered on his band's 1980s hits such as 'The Power of Love' and 'I Want a New Drug,' and a still-to-be-released mockumentary series that delves into his life and hearing loss.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Back to the Future Cast Reunites to Find Lost Guitar
For four decades, a crucial piece of cinematic history has been missing. It's the iconic cherry red Gibson ES-345 that Marty McFly shredded during the legendary Enchantment Under the Sea dance scene in Back to the Future—an electrifying moment that sparked a generation of guitarists and cemented the instrument's place in pop culture. Now, as Back to the Future celebrates its 40th anniversary, the film's beloved cast has reunited for a real-life quest, partnering with guitar company Gibson to launch a global search for the missing guitar—an adventure so compelling, it's being chronicled in a new documentary, Lost to the Future. While Back to the Future has always played with time travel, one mystery has remained stubbornly stuck in the past: what happened to Marty McFly's iconic Gibson guitar? Now, with the spotlight on the franchise's 40th anniversary, the search has taken on new urgency, and familiar faces are stepping in to help. In a newly released video, stars Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly), Christopher Lloyd (Dr. Emmett 'Doc' Brown), Lea Thompson (Lorraine Baines), Harry Waters Jr. (Marvin Berry), and Huey Lewis (Battle of the Bands judge) lend their voices to the cause, rallying fans around the world to aid in the hunt. With the help of Gibson and its global community of musicians and collectors, the initiative aims to do what even a DeLorean couldn't: locate a long-lost relic of cinematic and musical history. 'Years ago, I was astonished to learn this beloved cinematic artifact had apparently disappeared into the space-time continuum,' said Bob Gale, co-creator of Back to the Future. 'Since we don't have a functioning time machine, this effort is probably our best chance to solve a decades-long mystery.' Mark Agnesi, Gibson's Director of Brand Experience, has been on this trail for years, long before it became a public campaign. 'After 16 years of searching, I'm so excited to get the entire guitar community together to help find the guitar that made me and so many other guitarists of my generation want to learn to play,' he said. Tips and potential sightings of the missing Gibson can be submitted via or by texting 1-855-345-1955. Adding a cinematic layer to the growing campaign, Gibson Films is set to release Lost to the Future—a documentary that digs into the emotional, cultural, and historical impact of a missing movie prop that has become a legend of its own. Directed by Doc Crotzer and narrated by Gibson's Mark Agnesi, the film offers an insider's look into the enduring connection between music and film through the voices of Back to the Future cast members Fox, Thompson, Lloyd, Waters Jr., and Lewis, along with franchise co-creator Gale. Rather than rehashing the well-known on-screen moment, the documentary shifts focus to behind-the-scenes stories, rare archival footage, and the underappreciated craftsmanship of vintage guitars. It follows the trail through dusty film prop warehouses, high-end guitar shops, and exclusive auction houses—all in pursuit of clues. For Crotzer, the project holds personal weight: 'This is the movie that made me want to be a filmmaker, and the scene that made me pick up a guitar for the first time,' he shared. More than a treasure hunt, Lost to the Future captures a shared longing for answers, for nostalgia, and for the chance to reconnect with a piece of history that helped shape generations of fans and musicians alike. For the uninitiated, Back to the Future is a classic sci-fi adventure film released in 1985 that follows the story of teenager Marty McFly, played by Fox. After being accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Lloyd), Marty must navigate 1955 without altering the course of history, especially when he unintentionally interferes with his parents' first meeting. With time running out, he must ensure they fall in love and find a way back to the future, all while avoiding timeline disasters. The film blends comedy, action, and heart, and has become a beloved cultural icon, spawning two sequels and generations of fans. Sources: CNN, Gibson Gazette Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.
