Who Really Sings (& Plays) Johnny B. Goode In Back To The Future

Summary Michael J. Fox didn't sing "Johnny B. Goode" in Back to the Future; Mark Campbell from Jack Mack and the Heart Attack provided the singing voice.

Fox learned to play the guitar for the scene and was taught by Paul Hanson, but the music heard in the film was played by musician Tim May.

The "Johnny B. Goode" scene was filmed using movie magic, with Fox playing the guitar and mouthing the song while May's recorded guitar music was synced in post-production.

One of the most unforgettable moments from Back To The Future is when Marty McFly plays “Johnny B. Goode” in 1955, but who sang and played the classic song in the movie? In 1985, Robert Zemeckis took the audience on a journey through time with the sci-fi movie Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Emmett “Doc” Brown. Back to the Future was a big success with critics and viewers, making way for a franchise consisting of three movies, a short film, and an animated series.

Back to the Future follows Marty McFly, an 18-year-old teenager who is accidentally sent back in time from 1985 to 1955 through a time machine created by his scientist friend Doc Brown. Once in the 1950s, Marty has to find a way to not only return to his time but also make sure that his parents fall in love, as there’s a risk of his presence in the past creating a paradox that could end with his existence. At one point, Marty plays guitar during his parents’ prom in the 1950s, with him performing the rock classic “Johnny B. Goode”, three years before the song was released.

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Michael J. Fox Didn't Sing "Johnny B. Goode" In Back To The Future

Instead, It Was Mark Campbell

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Marty takes the stage with the band playing at the prom when their guitarist injures his hand and the band refuses to continue without him. Desperate to make sure his parents kiss as he knows that’s when they began dating, Marty takes the place of the guitarist so there can be music to set the mood, and once his parents kiss, he takes the lead and starts playing Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”. The “Johnny B. Goode” performance became one of the most memorable moments from Back to the Future, and contrary to what some may believe, Michael J. Fox didn’t sing nor play, but he did make an effort to make it look like he was.

As it turns out, Marty’s singing voice was that of Mark Campbell, a member of the soul and R&B band Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Campbell wasn’t credited as the production crew wanted to fully make the illusion that Fox was singing, but music supervisor Bones Howe made sure Campbell got a small percentage of the soundtrack revenue as compensation.

Related The 10 Best Marty McFly Quotes In The Back To The Future Trilogy, Ranked The Back to the Future franchise is full of amazing quotes, particularly from Marty McFly, its plucky teenaged time-traveling protagonist.

Michael J. Fox Played Guitar In Back To The Future (Sort Of)

You Don't Actually Hear Him

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As for Marty’s amazing guitar skills, he was the one to play the instrument on screen. First, Fox was taught how to play the song by Paul Hanson, and Fox shared with Empire that he told Zemeckis he could cut to his hands any time he wanted as he knew how to play. While Marty is playing the song correctly on screen, the music that is heard in Back to the Future is actually being played by musician Tim May.

As for Marty’s rockstar moves, they were all thanks to choreographer Brad Jeffries, who taught Fox how to move like guitar legends like Pete Townshend, Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix. All these elements combined resulted in an unforgettable scene with great music in Back to the Future, and it’s especially great as Michael J. Fox was willing to learn how to play the song to make it look real, even if he didn’t go as far as to play it himself.

Related How Old Was Christopher Lloyd In Back To The Future? Back to the Future's Dr. Emmett Brown is one of cinema's greatest characters, but how old was Christopher Lloyd when he played the eccentric inventor?

How Back To The Future's "Johnny B. Goode" Scene Was Filmed

It Required Some Movie Magic

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Back to the Future shot the "Johnny B. Goode" scene by having Fox play the guitar and mouth the song, although his voice and music is not what was heard in the final film. The second step was syncing the footage of Fox playing with the actual music, and so Tim May was brought in to record the guitar. Although it would have been somewhat logical to have Paul Hanson play the guitar as well, the crew went with May instead, leading to one of Back to the Future's most iconic scenes.