George Michael Faith guitar sells for £180k after dispute over auction

Guitar leads the sale

The vintage acoustic guitar, known as the Rockabilly Rebel, sold for £180,000 with its original hard-shell case and leather strap. Michael played it in the 1987 video for “Faith,” reportedly after buying it in a Los Angeles shop shortly before filming.

Other items included a Queen Five Live EP sleeve signed by band members, Michael and Lisa Stansfield, which sold for £7,000. A ringbound itinerary from Michael’s 1988 Faith Tour fetched £5,000.

Bailey’s connection to Michael

Siobhan Bailey began working as Michael’s personal assistant in 1984, the year Wham! had its first number-one hit with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” Auction house Sworders described the 32 lots as memorabilia from Bailey’s collection and called her Michael’s long-time assistant and trusted confidante.

The lots also included signed photographs, presentation discs, a note from Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, and an invitation to Ridgeley’s 21st birthday party. Bailey’s brother said Michael trusted his sister and valued her opinion.

Family objected to auction

Bailey died suddenly of natural causes in 2014, aged 56. She was divorcing Belcher but remained legally married to him and had not left a will, so her estate passed to him.

In a letter to the auction house, Bailey’s family called the sale a breach of her privacy and objected to her name being used to promote it. Her brother said she would not have agreed to the auction and that the family wanted the possessions to stay with them.

There was no suggestion that Belcher lacked the legal right to sell the items. Bailey’s brother said Belcher was later persuaded that the memorabilia could not remain in a garage indefinitely because it might deteriorate.