American guitar giant Gibson recently announced a global search for the iconic red Gibson ES-345 electric guitar played by Michael J. Fox's character, Marty McFly, during the dance scene in the film "Back to the Future." The instrument has been missing since filming wrapped, and Gibson hopes this worldwide initiative will recover the valuable piece of cinematic history.
This week, Gibson released a video featuring "Back to the Future" stars Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, and Christopher Lloyd, alongside Huey Lewis, who made a cameo in the film and performed "The Power of Love." They collectively urged the public to provide any potential leads.
In the video, Fox humorously stated, "We need your help. We're looking for the guitar I played in 'Back to the Future.' It's either stuck in a time warp or hidden in some crew member's uncle's garage."
The guitar was reportedly rented from Norman’s Rare Guitars, a renowned vintage instrument shop in Los Angeles, and returned after filming. However, its whereabouts since then have remained a mystery. Mark Agnesi, Gibson's Director of Brand Experience, suggested the guitar might have been sold to Japan in the 1980s or is now part of a private collection. He added, "I've known about this guitar being there since my first day at Norman's, and I've been looking for it for 15 years."
To document this extensive search, Gibson is producing a documentary titled "Lost to the Future," slated for release to coincide with the 40th anniversary of "Back to the Future." Furthermore, Gibson plans to unveil an exclusive interview with Michael J. Fox and launch a limited-edition replica inspired by the guitar on October 21, 2025, known as "Back to the Future Day."
The guitar possesses a unique identifying feature: a single bar inlay on the 12th fret, distinct from the split parallelogram inlays typically found on an ES-345. Agnesi stated, "If we find that 12th fret bar inlay, that's our smoking gun."
Gibson is urging guitar enthusiasts and film fans worldwide to provide any information regarding the instrument via the official Gibson website or dedicated hotline. The company hopes the guitar will resurface, allowing more people to witness its legacy.