Family row over George Michael items up for auction - including Faith guitar

The recent auction of memorabilia closely associated with George Michael has ignited a dispute within the family of the late singer's personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey. Among the items sold was the guitar featured in Michael’s 1987 Faith music video, which commanded a remarkable £180,000 at auction.

This guitar, a Gretsch Synchromatic that Michael reportedly acquired in Los Angeles, played a significant symbolic role during his transition from pop idol to solo artist. Dressed in a classic leather jacket and jeans, Michael’s image with this guitar became emblematic of his solo career’s inception.

The auction was conducted by Sworders and included over 30 lots from Bailey’s collection. These items, valued collectively at £238,000 before buyer’s fees, encompassed signed photographs, event invitations, presentation CDs, and several gold and platinum discs connected to both Wham! and Michael’s solo achievements.

Siobhan Bailey had been George Michael’s trusted personal assistant for two decades, beginning her tenure in 1984—the year Wham! scored their first number-one hit. Throughout her career, Bailey maintained a low profile, prioritizing the singer’s privacy during periods of intense media scrutiny.

Bailey passed away unexpectedly in 2014, leaving no will. At the time of her death, she was legally married to Ian Belcher, her estranged husband. Following her passing, Belcher inherited the memorabilia and arranged for its sale. This action has been met with strong opposition from Bailey’s brother, Gerard Bailey, who contends that Siobhan would have disapproved of the auction and the use of her name in connection with it.

Gerard Bailey has expressed that his sister had begun drafting a will prior to her death, intending for these possessions to remain within the family, specifically to her nieces and nephews. However, since this will was not formalized, the estate defaulted to Belcher.

The family criticizes the auction’s promotion as a memorial tribute, arguing that the sale represents a breach of privacy and a commercial exploitation of deeply personal items. Gerard Bailey has described the proceedings as dishonorable and inconsistent with his sister’s character, emphasizing that she would have found the selling of her personal effects distressing.

Among other notable items sold were a Queen Five Live EP signed by prominent musicians, a ringbound itinerary from Michael’s 1988 Faith Tour, and various gold discs celebrating hits such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “I Want Your Sex.” Personal notes and photographs bearing Michael’s signature were also part of the sale.

Sworders’ chairman, Guy Schooling, defended the auction, portraying it as both a tribute and a means of honoring Bailey’s memory. He noted that the interactions with Ian Belcher over the course of two and a half years had been positive, framing the sale as a legitimate opportunity to share unique memorabilia with collectors.

The controversy highlights the challenges that often arise with estates lacking clear directives, especially when items hold significant cultural and sentimental value. Siobhan Bailey’s close relationship with George Michael, spanning his rise to fame and his solo career, places these possessions at the intersection of personal history and public interest.

George Michael himself, who grew up in Hertfordshire and rose to fame with Wham! before embarking on a celebrated solo career, passed away in 2016. His legacy continues to resonate through his music and the artifacts that recall his artistic journey.

Details regarding any further legal or familial developments remain limited. The auction’s outcome, however, has already sparked reflection on the stewardship of celebrity memorabilia and the respect owed to those who once safeguarded these treasures.