There’s no doubt that Marty McFly rocked his performance at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, a sceneMichael J. Fox worked hard to perfect. But what’s never been clear is whether Chuck Berry, the original songwriter behind “Johnny B. Goode,” had any thoughts aboutBack to the Future’s musical homage.
Speaking exclusively to Parade, Fox opened up about the legendary performer — and whether he ever heard from Berry.
In the 1985 sci-fi film, the scene is set in 1955, when Marty joins the Starlighters on stage to perform the classic track. It’s portrayed as the first time the song is ever heard, with Marvin Berry calling his cousin Chuck to let him listen over the phone. The moment is meant as a playful nod to Berry’s influence on rock and roll history.
In reality, “Johnny B. Goode” was written and recorded by Chuck Berry in 1958. Berry wrote the song about a young man from humble beginnings who dreams of becoming a famous musician.
The song became one of Berry’s most successful recordings. It reached number two on Billboard’s Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on the Hot 100. Over time, it came to be regarded as one of the defining songs of early rock and roll.
With so much at stake, Fox delivered a convincing performance. But did it earn Berry’s approval? According to the actor, he’s not sure.
Fox tells Parade the rock and roll legend didn’t reach out to him after the movie became a blockbuster. “I never heard from Chuck Berry,” he revealed.
It’s perhaps not surprising, since Berry didn’t speak publicly about the film’s use of his song, and with his passing in 2017, his personal thoughts on the homage may never be known.
While Berry’s approval may be uncertain, Fox dedicated a lot of effort to get the scene right. Although he didn’t actually sing or play the guitar, studio musicians provided both, he learned to play guitar to convincingly mime along.
“The music was prerecorded before I got there,” he tells Parade. “They played me the track and said, ‘Can you do this?’ and I said ‘Yeah, I can play it.”
The singing, however, was handled by Mark Campbell. Fox adds, “I can’t sing a lick! I’m a terrible singer! I love that this guy’s voice was in my timber and in my range. He could round off the notes and musicality that I could never do.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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