Family Dispute Erupts Over Auction of George Michael’s Iconic Faith Guitar

A family dispute has emerged over the auction of memorabilia belonging to late British singer George Michael, including the iconic guitar he played in the music video for his hit song Faith.

The collection, assembled by Michael’s longtime personal assistant Siobhan Bailey, is being auctioned by Sworders on Thursday, 29 October. The sale includes personal belongings, photographs, tour documents and gold and platinum music awards from the singer’s career.

However, Bailey’s brother, Gerard Bailey, has strongly criticised the auction, arguing that his sister would never have agreed to have her cherished possessions sold to the highest bidder.

Siobhan Bailey died unexpectedly in 2014 at the age of 56. The items are being sold by her estranged husband, Ian Belcher, who inherited her estate because they were still legally married when she died. <Cite refs={[“turn157345search0″,”turn157345search4”]}/>

Gerard acknowledged that Belcher has the legal right to sell the collection but questioned the decision to promote the auction using his sister’s name.

In a letter to the auction house, he described the sale as a breach of her privacy and criticised what he called the misuse of her name.

He also asked Sworders to cancel the auction or, alternatively, advertise it under Belcher’s name.

Iconic Faith guitar leads the collection

The most prominent item in the sale is a vintage Gretsch Synchromatic 160 acoustic guitar used by Michael in the 1987 music video for Faith.

The instrument, estimated to sell for between £60,000 and £120,000, became closely associated with the singer’s transformation from Wham! frontman into a successful solo artist.

In the video, Michael famously appeared wearing a black leather jacket, a white T-shirt and ripped blue jeans while playing the guitar beside a jukebox.

The instrument has since become one of the most recognisable objects associated with his solo career. Guitar publications have described it as one of the most famous Gretsch Synchromatic guitars in the world.

Gerard Bailey said the guitar had been a gift to his sister because Michael valued her friendship and trusted her professionally.

He said his sister had worked hard to protect the singer’s privacy and would have been deeply upset to see her personal possessions offered for sale.

Personal items also attract interest

The auction features 32 lots, including tour memorabilia, handwritten notes, photographs and awards from Michael’s career.

Among the items is a Filofax containing Siobhan’s handwritten notes and annotations from Michael’s 1988 Faith tour. Although it carried an estimate of up to £600, bidding had already reached £1,750 ahead of the sale.

Other pieces include a note signed by Michael and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, an official Wham! photograph dedicated to Siobhan, and an invitation to Ridgeley’s 21st birthday party.

Gold and platinum discs presented to Siobhan to recognise sales milestones achieved by Michael’s music are also included.

Gerard said his sister was proud of the personalised awards but remained modest about her association with the singer.

He described the proposed sale of her notebooks and private correspondence as particularly painful, arguing that the items should have remained within the family.

A trusted figure behind George Michael’s career

Siobhan Bailey began working as Michael’s personal assistant in 1984, the year Wham! achieved its first UK number-one single with Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

She remained in the role for approximately 20 years, becoming a trusted confidante during both the successful and challenging periods of his career.

Her brother said she was among the few people whose opinions Michael valued and that she consistently offered him honest advice.

According to Gerard, Siobhan had begun preparing a will shortly before her death, intending for the possessions to pass to her nieces and nephews. However, the document was never registered, and her estate passed to her husband under the applicable inheritance arrangements.

Sworders and Belcher declined to comment on the family dispute.

The auction has reopened difficult questions for the family about the ownership and future of possessions connected to one of Britain’s most celebrated pop stars, whose music continues to attract fans around the world.