The Faith Tour

The Faith Tour was the first solo concert tour by English singer-songwriter George Michael, launched in support of his multi-million selling debut solo album Faith. The tour spanned nine months between February and October 1988 with three final shows in the summer of 1989, comprising 109 shows across sixteen countries. It was choreographed by Paula Abdul.

Overview

On 30 October 1987, George Michael released his debut solo studio album, Faith. After receiving a 1988 Brit Award for "Best British Male" at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Michael embarked on a massive sold out world tour which would occupy most of that year. It started in Tokyo's Budokan indoor arena in February and ended at Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. Most of the set list was based on the Faith track listing with a couple of songs from Wham! ("Everything She Wants" and "I'm Your Man"). Michael also paid a tribute to artists that he had been influenced by such as "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle, Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" and Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today". When Michael performed at Birmingham's NEC Arena, former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley joined him briefly onstage for a performance of "I'm Your Man". With already two US number ones, new singles continued to be released while on tour, with "One More Try" and "Monkey" reaching number 1 in late May and August 1988 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

On 11 June 1988, Michael performed three songs including Gladys Knight's "If You Were My Woman" for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium. Michael used the concert as preparation for a show later the same day at London's Earls Court.

For the first five months, Michael had consulted eight doctors in a variety of countries for throat pain which had caused some concert cancellations. Eventually in London he was diagnosed with a cyst in the throat. The demanding schedule took a pause for Michael to recuperate. In August 1988, Michael toured the United States beginning in Landover, Maryland and closing late October in Pensacola, Florida. In August, in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for a duet on "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". The 43-date American tour alone grossed a total of $15 million (about $ in today's dollars), performing to over 750,000 fans. Michael also topped the Billboard Year-End of 1988 charts in the US with Faith and single of the same title. According to RIAA, he was the top-selling artist of the year 1988 in the United States.

Last European dates

In early July 1989, nine months after the tour ended, Michael performed three special concerts (shows in Spain had been previously cancelled) at Madrid's Las Ventas, La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga and Sarrià Stadium in Barcelona.

Recordings and release

On 10 March 2026, George Michael Entertainment announced the release of a concert film entitled ', which will premiere in theatres worldwide later that year. The footage – which was shot during the two consecutive performances at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris on 30 and 31 May 1988 – was "assembled from a 14-camera shoot captured on 35mm film across two nights", and was "newly restored and remastered" for the release. Directed by Andy Morahan and David Austin, the theatrical release of the film will be opened by a short film by Mary McCartney entitled Finding Faith, which will feature unseen photographs of Michael by American photographer Herb Ritts, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the music video shoot for "Faith". An accompanying release of a 18-track live album entitled The Faith Tour was also announced. Eleven tracks from the 31 May performance were previously broadcast on several radio stations in several countries including Westwood One networks company.

1988

1989