George Michael's Faith guitar is set to sell for £120,000 after his personal assistant's estranged husband put it up for auction after her death

The iconic guitar featured in George Michael's celebrated "Faith" music video has fetched an impressive £234,000 at auction, sparking a family dispute over its sale. The instrument, a Gretsch Synchromatic 160, was originally gifted by Michael to his long-time personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey, who worked alongside the singer for two decades.

Siobhan Bailey began her tenure as Michael’s personal assistant in 1984 and remained a trusted figure in his professional life for 20 years. The guitar was presented to her as a personal keepsake, reflecting the close working relationship and mutual respect they shared. The 1987 hit "Faith," which propelled Michael’s solo career to new heights, sold over 25 million copies worldwide, making the instrument historically significant.

Following Bailey’s death in 2014, the guitar became the center of contention. At the time, Bailey was in the process of divorcing her husband, Ian Belcher, but had not completed a will to stipulate the distribution of her possessions. Belcher, as her estranged spouse, subsequently inherited the guitar and related memorabilia, which he later put up for auction.

Bailey’s family has publicly expressed dismay at the sale, emphasizing that she had intended for many of her personal belongings to remain within the family. According to her brother Gerard Bailey, she had been drafting a will to bequeath these items to her nieces and nephews but passed away before finalizing it. He suggested that had she survived a few more weeks, the ownership of the guitar and other possessions might not have transferred to Belcher.

The auction, conducted by UK-based Sworders, included not only the guitar with its original case but also a collection of unique George Michael memorabilia. Highlights featured signed photographs addressed to Bailey, an annotated itinerary from Wham!'s groundbreaking 1985 China tour—the first by a major Western pop act—as well as concert tickets, passes, and gold records commemorating sales milestones.

The guitar itself was estimated to sell for between £60,000 and £120,000 but attracted competitive bidding that nearly doubled the higher estimate. The final hammer price reached £180,000, with the buyer ultimately paying £234,480 after additional auction fees. This result underscored the enduring appeal of Michael’s legacy and the cultural value attached to tangible artifacts from his career.

Sworders characterized the auction as offering a rare glimpse into the life and work of a music legend, highlighting the guitar as the centerpiece of the sale. They noted the timing was appropriate, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the "Faith" album’s release. While the auction house refrained from commenting on the family dispute, they affirmed the legality of the sale and ownership rights.

Despite the controversy, Ian Belcher declined to comment publicly on the matter. The situation illustrates the complexities that can arise when valuable celebrity memorabilia intersects with unresolved estate issues. It also brings to light the personal dynamics behind the scenes of the music world, where intimate artifacts can become flashpoints years after an artist’s passing.

The sale of George Michael’s Faith guitar not only marks an important moment in the ongoing appreciation of his contributions to pop music but also serves as a reminder of the personal stories entwined with such objects. Though the guitar has found a new owner, questions about legacy, memory, and rightful inheritance continue to resonate among those closest to the late star.