George Michael's Faith guitar sells for £180,000 at auction

The iconic guitar used by George Michael in his 1987 "Faith" music video has been sold at auction for £180,000. The sale of the instrument, which is regarded as a significant piece of musical history, took place despite a public dispute involving the family of Michael’s late personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey. The auction featured over 30 items of personal memorabilia that once belonged to the legendary singer, marking a significant moment for collectors of music history.

The items were put up for sale by Ian Belcher, the estranged husband of Siobhan Bailey, who served as George Michael’s long-time personal assistant until her death in 2014. Mr. Belcher inherited the collection following his wife’s passing, a move that has sparked intense criticism from Siobhan's surviving relatives. The collection included not only the "Faith" guitar but also various signed pieces of memorabilia that Siobhan had kept from her years working closely with the pop icon.

Siobhan’s brother, Gerard Bailey, has been vocal in his opposition to the auction, characterizing the sale as a "breach of privacy." He stated that his sister would have been "horrified" at the prospect of her personal possessions being sold for profit. According to Mr. Bailey, Siobhan had begun making arrangements for a will before she died but had not finalized it, leading him to argue that the items should have remained with her immediate family rather than being auctioned off by her estranged husband.

Beyond the financial value, the "Faith" guitar holds immense cultural significance, representing the era when George Michael transitioned from a teen pop idol in Wham! to a respected solo artist. While the legal right to sell the items remained with Mr. Belcher as the heir to Siobhan’s estate, the controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between the commercial market for celebrity memorabilia and the privacy concerns of those close to the stars.