Whoa, this IS heavy. When Marty McFly took to the stage at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in Back to the Future, we had no idea his performance influences would be so... diverse. With guitar moves borrowed from some of the most iconic rockers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, his on-stage performance would be one for the history books. Well, if an “out of time” performance could somehow possibly do that. Play along with this interactive infographic and see if you can guess which guitarist inspired the corresponding move in Marty's performance!
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This is Heavy: An Interactive Back to the Future Infographic Transcript
During Marty McFly's guitar solo in Back to the Future, he borrowed the signature moves of several iconic guitarists.
Duck Walk—Chuck Berry
- Author of the song "Johnny B Good" and several other number one hits.
Stacatto Slide Down—Dick Dale
- Best known for "Misirlou", which had a revival in 1994's Pulp Fiction.
Windmill—Pete Townshend
- Guitarist and songwriter for legendary rock band The Who.
Amp-Assisted Windmill—Pete Townshend
- Wrote "My Generation", "Magic Bus", and "I Can See for Miles".
Vertical Neck Finger Tapping—Eddie Van Halen
- Guitarist for Van Halen, whose music Marty used to scare George.
Behind the Head—Jimi Hendrix
- Only recorded three albums in his lifetime, but made a lasting impact.
Power Slide—Pete Townshend
- Wrote "Pinball Wizard", "Behind Blue Eyes", and "Won't Get Fooled Again".
The Spasm—Angus Young
- Lead guitarist of AC/DC, famous for his iconic schoolboy outfit.
Amp Abuse—Pete Townshend
- Wrote "Baba O'Riley", "Who Are You", and "Love Reign O'er Me".
Heavy, right? Since cosplaying Marty is all the rage right now (it is 2015, after all...) it'd be an awesome idea to bone up on these moves when portraying the iconic character. But an even better idea? Making sure your costume is authentic with our exclusive Back to the Future merchandise. We have officially licensed Marty McFly costumes and accessories that will make you look and feel just like the real deal. Let us know what you think of his moves by commenting below, and feel free to pass along pictures of yourself rocking out!
Design Credit: Kate Willaert