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Great Scott! The hunt is on for the guitar from 'Back to the Future.' Here's how you can help

A man in a gray suit plays a red guitar on stage with other musicians in a scene from "Back to the Future." A banner reading "Enchantment Under the Sea" hangs over them.
Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) memorably played Chuck Berry's hit "Johnny B. Goode" in this scene from the 1985 film "Back to the Future."
(
Courtesy backtothefuture.com via Gibson Guitars
)

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Remember the red guitar Marty McFly plays in the iconic "Enchantment Under the Sea" school dance scene in the time-traveling film classic Back To the Future?

You know, this one?

Turns out, the guitar has been missing since the movie came out in 1985. It was originally rented for use in the film from Norm's Rare Guitars in Tarzana, but when the filmmakers went looking for it while making the sequel, it was nowhere to be found.

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As the film approaches its 40th birthday in July, Gibson Guitars says they're launching a global search for the guitar. And they want your help tracking it down.

They even got some of the movie's cast back together for a video sounding the call to action.

The search announcement comes alongside news that Gibson and filmmaker Doc Crotzer are teaming up on a documentary about the search called Lost to the Future.

No ordinary guitar

OK, so Marty McFly may not actually be responsible for inspiring Chuck Berry to write a song that would eventually become a rock 'n' roll staple. But the Cherry Red Gibson ES-345 guitar and the scene it's featured in are responsible for inspiring some of today's biggest musical acts.

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Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said during a set at Glastonbury Music Festival last year, during which he brought Michael J. Fox on stage, that his band exists because of the movie.

Fox has also said that guitarist John Mayer told him: "I play guitar because of you."

How to help

Have you seen the guitar? Do you have a lead on where it might be? You can submit a written tip here, or you can call or text it to (855) 345-1955.

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