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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Michael J. Fox is the performer audiences see in the Enchantment Under the Sea scene, but he is not the singer on the recording. Universal Music Enterprises states in its October 6, 2015 reissue announcement that Mark Campbell sang the soundtrack vocal. Tim May is named in the film’s official credits, and published reporting identifies him as the recorded guitarist. The credits themselves do not say what he did. On screen and in the official billing, the performance is credited to “Marty McFly with the Starlighters.”
Those are separate roles, and it helps to keep them apart.
Who does what in the scene
| Role | Person or credit | What the source establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Visible performer on screen | Michael J. Fox, as Marty McFly | Fox performs the on-camera scene and its guitar gestures, as described in Gibson’s June 3, 2025 announcement. |
| Official performance billing | “Marty McFly with the Starlighters” | Listed in the official film credits as the performer of “JOHNNY B. GOODE.” |
| Recorded vocal | Mark Campbell | Stated in Universal Music Enterprises’ October 6, 2015 announcement. Campbell appears in the film’s special-thanks credit. |
| Recorded guitar | Tim May | Identified as the guitarist in published reporting. Official credits list May under special thanks without stating a role. |
| Producer | Bones Howe | Credited in the official film credits. |
| Instrument shown on screen | Cherry Red Gibson ES-345 | Named in Gibson’s June 3, 2025 announcement, which also reported the original screen-used guitar as missing. |
What the film credits say
The official film credits list the song as “JOHNNY B. GOODE” and state that it is “Performed by MARTY McFLY with the STARLIGHTERS.” Bones Howe is credited as producer. The special-thanks line names Mark Campbell and Tim May.
That billing keeps the performance inside the story. Marty is the one playing for the Starlighters, so the credit names the character and band rather than the people who recorded the track. The credits do not explain why the filmmakers chose this wording, and the official materials reviewed for this article do not address it.
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#1 Best Overall
Who sang the recorded vocal
Mark Campbell sang the vocal on the soundtrack recording. The film credits thank him, and Universal Music Enterprises’ 2015 reissue announcement names him directly as the singer. That is the most specific vocal attribution available, and it comes from the label rather than the film itself.
Who played the recorded guitar
Tim May is the one credit that needs careful wording. The official film credits acknowledge him under special thanks, but they do not say he played guitar on the recording. Published reporting identifies him as the guitarist on the recording. Treat that as a secondary attribution. It is not stated in the film’s own credits.
Rank #2
The guitar you see on screen and the guitar you hear on the track are different matters. Fox’s on-camera playing is a visual performance. Nothing in the sources reviewed here shows that Fox played the guitar audio heard on the soundtrack.
What Michael J. Fox did on camera
Gibson’s June 2025 announcement includes Fox discussing how he planned the scene. He describes working with the cinematographer and choreographer to build the performance around guitar heroes. In his words:
Rank #3
![Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tZjpKIm9L._SL160_.jpg)
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Number of Discs: 6
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 343
- Rating: PG
“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.”
He also described what the scene meant to him:
“I’m really happy with the scene because it was an expression of my love for guitar and all the great players.”
Rank #4
![Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bX+X+94fL._SL160_.jpg)
Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy [Blu-ray]
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
The instrument shown was a Cherry Red Gibson ES-345. Gibson and the official film site reported the original screen-used guitar as missing during their 2025 search. The announcement does not say the guitar has been found.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The scene and its context
Marty plays at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in 1955. He joins the Starlighters after an injured band member can no longer play. The official production notes describe Marty as a rock guitarist from the 1980s who is sent to a time before rock and roll, and the scene plays on that gap. The Associated Press, in its June 3, 2025 coverage, notes that the song has not yet been written in the 1955 timeline, so the audience’s reaction is part of the joke.
Best Value
- Genre: Science Fiction; Comedy
- Number of Discs: 3
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 116
- Rating: PG
Finding the soundtrack version
The official soundtrack page lists the track under “Marty McFly with the Starlighters.” Universal Music Enterprises announced a double-vinyl reissue in October 2015. That edition is documented, but current availability is not confirmed here, so check the label’s catalogue or a retailer for the current status before buying.
No sales, chart or box-office figures bear on who sang or played this recording, so none are cited.
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