Stars Of Popular 1980's Movie Ask For Help Locating Iconic Guitar From Film

NASHVILLE, TN — Guitar manufacturer Gibson announced this week it is searching for an iconic guitar featured in one of the biggest hit movies of the 1980's, and the stars of the film are asking fans to help them find it.

Additionally, Gibson plans to detail its search for the beloved instrument in a new documentary planned for release later this year.

One of Cinema's Most Iconic Instruments

The missing guitar in question is the cherry red Gibson ES-345 famously played by Marty McFly, the main character of "Back to the Future," during the classic Enchantment Under the Sea school dance scene.

In the movie, McFly riffs on the legendary Chuck Berry song "Johnny B. Goode" and, if the fictional film were to be taken literally, actually invents the song while visiting the 1950's in his and scientist pal Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine.

Released by Universal Pictures and directed by Robert Zemeckis, who helmed a number of other iconic films like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away," "Back to the Future" was the highest grossing movie domestically of 1985, according to Box Office Mojo.

The film celebrates its 40th anniversary this July. A sequel to the film was released in 1989, and a second sequel was released in 1990, turning the series into a trilogy.

According to a news release posted to the film's official website, the scene of McFly, played by "Family Ties" and "Teen Wolf" actor Michael J. Fox, strumming the iconic Gibson also inspired a number of popular artists to pick up a guitar, including John Mayer and Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Gibson Launches Global Search

According to a video released Tuesday by Gibson, the "Back to the Future" guitar has not been seen since 1985.

The video features Fox, as well as co-stars Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Harry Waters Jr., asking fans to help locate the guitar.

"We are on the lookout for a missing guitar...this is an important piece of cinema history," Bob Gale, who co-wrote the trilogy with Zemeckis, says in the video.

Fox notes the guitar is "somewhere lost in the spacetime continuum, or it's in some teamster's garage."

Rockstar Huey Lewis, the lead singer of Huey Lewis and the News, also makes a surprise appearance in the video urging fans to help find the guitar.

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Lewis had a memorable cameo in "Back to the Future" and also co-wrote some songs for its soundtrack, including the hit track "The Power of Love."

To aid in the search, a website has been launched through which fans can submit tips about the guitar's location and stay updated on the search. They can also call or text a tip line for the search, the number for which is also available on the website.

A New Documentary

Gibson also announced a forthcoming documentary from Gibson Films titled "Lost to the Future" will feature in-depth interviews with Fox, Lloyd, Thompson, Waters, Lewis and Gale, as well as "the world-renowned music superstars that have been inspired by the film over the decades."

According to the release, documentary director Doc Crotzer and narrator Mark Agnesi will guide viewers in the global hunt for this legendary instrument, "from long-forgotten film prop warehouses, fascinating vintage guitar shops, auction houses and shadowy back alleys."

The documentary will also transport viewers back to 1985 to celebrate the music, culture and defining moments of the era through a collection of archival photos, stories, film clips and songs, according to the release.