George Michael's Faith guitar leads auction amid family dispute

A bitter family row has erupted over an auction of George Michael memorabilia, with the singer’s former personal assistant’s brother accusing his estranged husband of selling cherished items for profit. The BBC News reported ^[1] that the dispute centres on items belonging to Siobhan Bailey, who worked as Michael’s personal assistant for 20 years before her death in 2014.

The headline lot is the vintage Gretsch Synchromatic guitar used in Michael’s iconic 1987 Faith music video. The Daily Mail noted ^[2] that the instrument is expected to fetch up to £120,000. It is being sold by Ian Belcher, Bailey’s widower, who inherited her estate after she died without a registered will. Bailey had been in the process of divorcing Belcher when she passed away, according to the BBC ^[1].

Gerard Bailey, Siobhan’s brother, told the BBC ^[1] that his sister “would be horrified” that her personal possessions were being sold to the highest bidder. He described the auction, which includes handwritten notes, tour itineraries, and personalised gold discs, as a “breach of privacy” and “wholly unethical”. In a letter seen by the BBC, Gerard stated that Belcher’s use of Siobhan’s name to promote the sale was “disingenuous” and “dishonourable”.

The auction house, Sworders, describes the 32 lots as a “remarkable group of memorabilia” from the collection of Michael’s trusted confidante. The Independent ^[3] reported that the entire archive is expected to exceed £200,000. Other items include a Filofax from the 1988 Faith tour, which has already seen bids exceed its estimate, and signed photographs from Michael and his Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley.

Legal rights appear to favour the seller. The BBC ^[1] clarified there is no suggestion Belcher lacks the right to sell the items, as the estate legally passed to him. However, Gerard Bailey claims Siobhan had begun drafting a will leaving the items to her nieces and nephews before her sudden death. He argued that had she lived a few weeks longer, Belcher would not have been considered next of kin.

Sworders chairman Guy Schooling described the Faith guitar as the “jewel in the crown” of the collection. He told the Daily Mail ^[2] that the sale offers fans the chance to own pieces of music history that capture the spirit of one of pop’s greatest artists. Despite the controversy, the auction proceeds today, leaving the family devastated by what they see as the commercialisation of their private memories.