The Faith Tour


The Faith Tour was the first solo concert tour by English recording artist 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, 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, George 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 off the Faith track listing with a couple of songs from Wham!. 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 Genting Arena, Andrew Ridgeley joined him briefly onstage for a performance of "I'm Your Man".
With already two U.S. number ones, new singles continued to be released while on tour with "One More Try" and "Monkey" also reaching No. 1 in late May and August 1988 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
On Saturday 11 June, 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 Los Angeles, George was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for a duet on "I Knew You Were Waiting ". The 43-date American tour alone grossed a total of $15 million, performing to over 750,000 fans.
Michael also topped the Billboard Year-End of 1988 charts in the U.S. with his album 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 shows (1989)

In early July 1989, nine months after the tour ended, Michael performed three special concerts at Madrid's Las Ventas, La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga and Sarrià Stadium in Barcelona.

Broadcast and recordings

The concert on 16 April 1988 in Rotterdam was professionally recorded for a commercial release. No DVD has been released.
The concert on 31 May 1988 in Paris was officially recorded as audio and 11 tracks from that show were broadcast on several radio stations in several countries.
The show on 1 July 1989 in Madrid was recorded and broadcast live on the television channel TVE1 in Spain and various European and Latin American countries.

Opening acts

The opening act for the tour varied from country to country; in North America some dates of the tour were supported by Deon Estus, The Bangles or Johnny Clegg & Savuka.
Numerous shows with Deon Estus began with a performance at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.
The Bangles played venues in New Orleans, Louisiana and Orlando, Miami, Florida.
Savuka played in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.

Set list

First leg

  1. "I Want Your Sex "
  2. "Hard Day"
  3. "Father Figure"
  4. "I'm Your Man"
  5. "Everything She Wants"
  6. "A Different Corner"
  7. "Faith"
  8. "Monkey"
  9. "Hand to Mouth"
  10. "One More Try"
  11. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  12. "Careless Whisper"
  13. "I Want Your Sex "

    Second leg

  14. "I Want Your Sex"
  15. "Hard Day"
  16. "Everything She Wants"
  17. "I'm Your Man"
  18. "A Different Corner"
  19. "Love's in Need of Love Today"
  20. "Father Figure"
  21. "One More Try"
  22. "Faith"
  23. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  24. "Careless Whisper"
  25. "Lady Marmalade"
  26. "I Want Your Sex"

    Third leg

  27. "I Want Your Sex "
  28. "Hard Day"
  29. "Father Figure"
  30. "I'm Your Man"
  31. "Love's in Need of Love Today"
  32. "Everything She Wants"
  33. "A Different Corner"
  34. "Faith"
  35. "Monkey"
  36. "Hand to Mouth"
  37. "Play That Funky Music"
  38. "One More Try"
  39. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  40. "Look at Your Hands"
  41. "Careless Whisper"
  42. "Lady Marmalade"
  43. "I Want Your Sex "

    Fourth leg

  44. "I Want Your Sex"
  45. "Faith"
  46. "Hard Day"
  47. "Everything She Wants"
  48. "I'm Your Man"
  49. "A Different Corner"
  50. "Love's in Need of Love Today"
  51. "Father Figure"
  52. "One More Try"
  53. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  54. "Lady Marmalade"
  55. "Careless Whisper"

    Shows 1989

Madrid

  1. "Faith "
  2. "I Want Your Sex"
  3. "Hard Day"
  4. "Father Figure"
  5. "Calling You"
  6. "Everything She Wants"
  7. "Faith"
  8. "I'm Your Man"
  9. "A Different Corner"
  10. "Love's in Need of Love Today"
  11. "One More Try"
  12. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  13. "Lady Marmalade"
  14. "Careless Whisper"

    Barcelona

  15. "I Want Your Sex" Parts I & II
  16. "Hard Day"
  17. "Calling You"
  18. "Everything She Wants"
  19. "Father Figure"
  20. "I'm Your Man"
  21. "Pastime Paradise"
  22. "Faith"
  23. "Monkey"
  24. "One More Try"
  25. "I Knew You Were Waiting "
  26. "Careless Whisper"
  27. "Lady Marmalade"
  28. "I Want Your Sex "
Source: Set list

Tour dates

;Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Personnel

As printed in the official tour programme.