George Michael Guitar to Fetch £120k at Auction Amid Family Dispute A Gretsch Synchromatic 160 used by George Michael in the famed 'Faith' video is up for auction under contentious circumstances involving the singer's veteran assistant's brother, Gerard Bailey. The sale, featuring the guitar and a bundle of personal items, has spurred a debate over ownership, memory and the legacy of pop music history. George Michael's iconic guitar used in the 1987 hit "Faith" is now up for auction, having been inherited by the estranged husband of the singer's long‑time personal assistant, Siobhan Bailey, after her 2014 death. Faith Guitar Inherited by Estranged HusbandThe instrument, a Gretsch Synchromatic 160 that Michael played with vigor in the music video, is expected to fetch around £120,000 at Sotheby's while also accompanied by a collection of personal memorabilia that highlights the close relationship between the legendary pop star and his trusted aide. The sale has stirred a heated family dispute, as Siobhan's brother Gerard Bailey has called the auction "disingenuous" and warned that it would have been better to keep the items within the family, citing his sister's plans to leave the guitar and related artifacts to her nieces and nephews.The controversy stems from the fact that Siobhan, who began working for Michael back in 1984 and continued as his personal assistant for two decades, had gifted the guitar to her sister, a gesture that reflected the singer's affection for her. After Siobhan's untimely death, her estranged husband Ian Belcher inherited the item and has now decided to auction it.Gerard claims that Siobhan had been preparing a will in the months before her death that would have transferred the guitar and accompanying artifacts - including signed photographs, an annotated itinerary of the historic 1985 China tour of Wham! , several presentation discs, gold records, concert tickets and other memorabilia - to her family. He argues that the sale, being promoted in her name, would violate her memory.Family Dispute Over George Michael MemorabiliaThe auction catalogue, which has been displayed by the same auction house that previously handled George Michael memorabilia, lists the guitar among a host of signed and exclusive items. In addition to the star's instrument, there are several photographs that Michael himself had personally inscribed to Siobhan. One of the artefacts is an annotated itinerary from the 1985 Wham! China tour, the first major Western pop act to visit Beijing.The document also includes a Chinese‑language invitation to the band's welcome reception, offering insight into a pioneering moment in cross‑cultural entertainment history. The collection also features several presentation discs and gold records celebrating milestone sales that were only briefly handled by Michael's own gallery before being transferred to Siobhan's personal collection. The auction, set to open in London this week, is expected to attract American, European and Asian collectors who are eager to own a piece of music history.In an interview with the BBC, Guy Schooling, chairman of the auction house, said: "George Michael's work continues to resonate as powerfully today as it did during his heyday. The Faith guitar is the jewel in the crown, and with the other items from Siobhan Bailey's collection it tells a story of creativity, ambition, and artistry on a global scale.Global Collectors Target Iconic Auction ItemsThe sale offers avid fans around the world a chance to possess not just pieces of music history, but objects that capture the spirit and ambition of one of pop's greatest and most‑loved artists." Ian Belcher, however, declined to comment on the matter. Gerard remarks that Siobhan would have preferred the gifts to remain in the family and accuses her husband of cashing in 12 years after her death. His statement underscores a broader debate about the ownership of cultural artifacts and the rights of artists, assistants, and the families who inherit them.The narrative of Michael's career as a trailblazer, his relationships with the people in his inner circle, and the eventual sale of a prized guitar paint a complex portrait of an era in which pop music met worldwide opportunity and controversy alike.