An acoustic guitar featured prominently in George Michael’s 1987 Faith music video sold for £180,000 at auction conducted by Sworders, part of a broader collection that generated controversy within the seller’s family.
The instrument was among 32 items auctioned from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, who served as Michael’s personal assistant for two decades beginning in 1984. Bailey died in 2014, and the items were sold by her estranged husband Ian Belcher, who inherited them following her death. The full auction realized £238,000 excluding buyers’ premium. Other notable items included a Queen Five Live EP sleeve signed by multiple artists valued at £7,000, various gold and platinum discs, and signed photographs and memorabilia from Michael’s career with Wham! and his solo work.
Siobhan Bailey’s brother, Gerard Bailey, expressed strong objections to the sale, stating his sister would have been horrified by the auction. He contended that Bailey had begun drafting a will shortly before her death that would have designated the items for her nieces and nephews, though the document was never registered. Gerard Bailey criticized the auction house for promoting the sale under his sister’s name, describing it as a breach of privacy and calling the practice unethical. He acknowledged Belcher’s legal right to sell the items but characterized the decision as opportunistic, occurring more than a decade after her death.
Sworders chairman Guy Schooling characterized the transaction as a tribute to Bailey’s relationship with the singer rather than an exploitative venture. The guitar, a vintage Gretsch Synchromatic, played a significant role in Michael’s transition from teen pop idol to serious solo artist during his Faith era. According to Guitarist magazine, it represents arguably the most renowned example of that model in existence.
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