On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Gibson launches a global search for the iconic Cherry Red ES-345 guitar from Back to the Future, missing for 40 years, and kicks off a new documentary, Lost to the Future, to celebrate the film’s legacy and inspire fans to join the hunt.
Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand, has embarked on a worldwide mission to locate the legendary Cherry Red Gibson ES-345 guitar famously played by Michael J. Fox in the 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future.
The guitar, which vanished 40 years ago during the production of the film’s 1989 sequel, was a centerpiece of the unforgettable “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance scene, where Fox’s character, Marty McFly, performed “Johnny B. Goode” in a moment that inspired countless musicians to pick up a guitar.
A Call to Action for Fans Worldwide
The search for this cinematic treasure, dubbed the most important guitar in film history, is now underway. Fans with any leads on the missing Gibson ES-345 are urged to contact Gibson via www.LostToTheFuture.com.
A call-to-action video featuring Emmy winner Michael J. Fox, alongside Back to the Future stars Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Harry Waters Jr., and GRAMMY® winner Huey Lewis, has been released to rally music and movie fans worldwide.
A Cultural Milestone: Back to the Future’s Legacy
Released on July 3, 1985, Back to the Future, directed by Oscar® winner Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Oscar® nominee Bob Gale, became the highest-grossing film in the U.S. that year and the second highest worldwide, spawning a franchise that grossed nearly $1 billion globally. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall, and produced by Neil Canton and Bob Gale, the film’s innovative storytelling, dynamic special effects, and iconic characters have made it a cultural touchstone.
The Iconic “Enchantment Under the Sea” Scene
The “Enchantment Under the Sea” scene, where Marty McFly channels guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, and Eddie Van Halen, remains one of cinema’s most influential musical moments.
Guitar has always been a big part of my life. When we talked about the ‘Enchantment Under The Sea’ scene in Back to the Future, I sat down with the cinematographer and choreographer and said I want to riff through all of my favorite guitarists, like doing Jimi Hendrix behind the head, Pete Townshend doing a windmill, and the Eddie (Van Halen) hammer thing, it was so cool that they were open to that, and we laid it all out there. I’m really happy with the scene because it was an expression of my love for guitar and all the great players.
I didn’t realize the influence the scene had on people, John Mayer said, ‘I play guitar because of you,’ and Chris Martin said the same thing, and I am glad they took it further than I did, they went to the trouble of being really good players. I just love the guitar, and I love the movie.
-Michael J. Fox
A Decades-Long Mystery
The guitar’s disappearance has long puzzled the Back to the Future team.
Years ago, I was astonished to learn this beloved cinematic artifact had apparently disappeared into the space-time continuum. Since we don’t have a functioning time machine, this effort is probably our best chance to solve a decades-long mystery.
–Bob Gale, co-creator/screenwriter/producer of Back to the Future
Gibson’s Passionate Pursuit
Gibson’s leadership is equally passionate about the search.
This is one of the most exciting moments at Gibson for me. Back To The Future is one of the most important and significant movies of my life, and the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea’ school dance scene marked me musically in a profound way. Working with Michael J. Fox, Bob Gale and the rest of the Back To The Future team is a dream come true. I hope we find Marty’s Gibson ES-345! To everyone out there who is as passionate as I am about this iconic film, please help us find it!
–Cesar Gueikian, President & CEO of Gibson
I started searching for this guitar back in 2009 on my first day on the job at Norman’s Rare Guitars. 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.
–Mark Agnesi, Gibson’s Director of Brand Experience
Lost to the Future: A Documentary in the Making
To celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary and amplify the search, Gibson Films has begun production on a new documentary, Lost to the Future. Directed by Doc Crotzer (Roadhouse, Glee), the film will feature interviews with Back to the Future cast members, including Fox, Thompson, Lloyd, and Waters Jr., as well as Huey Lewis and Bob Gale. It will also spotlight music superstars inspired by the film.
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. As children of the ’80s, it is our duty to take fans of music, fans of the movie, and fans of true crime documentaries with us on this too-crazy-to-believe quest to find our generation’s Excalibur.
-Doc Crotzer, director of Lost To The Future
The documentary will follow Crotzer and Agnesi as they scour forgotten prop warehouses, vintage guitar shops, auction houses, and shadowy back alleys in pursuit of the elusive ES-345. Through archival photos, film clips, and iconic songs, Lost to the Future will transport viewers back to 1985, celebrating the music, culture, and defining moments of the era.
Join the Hunt
The search for the Gibson ES-345 is more than a quest for a lost prop—it’s a chance to reclaim a piece of cinematic and musical history. Fans are encouraged to join the hunt at LostToTheFuture.com and explore more about Back to the Future at BackToTheFuture.com or Gibson at Gibson.com.
Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, X, and Facebook,and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London.
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