Friday, October 30, 2026 - A major family dispute has erupted over the sale of iconic George Michael memorabilia, including the famous guitar he played in the 1987 music video for his global hit Faith.
The instrument, which became one of the defining images of his solo career, was recently auctioned by Sworders as part of a collection belonging to his former personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey. The guitar attracted enormous interest, eventually selling for an impressive £234,480 to an anonymous UK-based online bidder, far exceeding its initial estimate of £60,000 to £120,000.
The controversy centres on Bailey's personal collection, which passed to her estranged husband, Ian Belcher, following her death in 2014. Although she was reportedly preparing to divorce him, the couple were still legally married, and she had not left a registered will.
Her brother, Gerard Bailey, has strongly criticised the auction, claiming his sister would have wanted the treasured items to remain within the family. He also argued that selling the collection under her name was disrespectful to her privacy. The auction house, Sworders, maintained that the legal ownership of the collection was not in question.
Beyond the famous guitar, the auction featured rare photographs, signed records, tour documents and personal memorabilia connected to George Michael's remarkable career with Wham! and as a solo artist. The guitar's extraordinary selling price demonstrates the continued demand for items connected to music legends, even years after their passing.
However, the family disagreement has raised difficult questions about inheritance, personal memories and who should control treasured celebrity possessions. For George Michael's devoted fans, the auction offered a rare opportunity to own a piece of pop history, but for Bailey's family, the emotional cost remains significant.
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