The guitar George Michael played in the 1987“Faith”video just sold for £180,000 at Sworders auction, more than doubling its top estimate of £120,000. Fans clearly still want a piece of the pop legend, and they’re willing to pay for it.
Here’s where it gets uncomfortable. The collection belonged to Siobhan Bailey, Michael’s personal assistant for twenty years, who died in 2014 without a will. Her estranged husband Ian Belcher inherited the items and put them up for auction under her name. Her brother Gerard tried to stop the sale, saying she would have been horrified. The auctioneer’s response: the items couldn’t stay in the garage forever.
Other lots included a Wham! gold disc for £4,500 and a signed Queen“Five Live”EP for £7,000. With Michael’s tour film hitting cinemas November 6, his legacy is everywhere right now. The question is whether it should come with a price tag. What do you think: memorize the music, or own the guitar?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.