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 on 19 February and ended at Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida, on 31 October. 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. During the 29 August performance 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 Concert film On 10 March 2026, George Michael Entertainment announced the release of a concert film entitled George Michael: The Faith Tour, 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.
Broadcasts The 1 July 1989 performance at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid was recorded and broadcast live on television channel TVE1 in Spain and various European and Latin American countries.
Opening acts Deon Estus (North America, selected dates)Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 27 August 1988 (P. 34) The Bangles (North America, selected dates)Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 12 November 1988 (P. 27)Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 3 December 1988 (P. 20) Johnny Clegg & Savuka (Toronto)Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 10 September 1988 (P. 30)
Set list 1988
First leg "I Want Your Sex" "Hard Day" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Everything She Wants" "Father Figure" "I'm Your Man" "A Different Corner" "Faith" "Monkey" "Hand to Mouth" "One More Try" "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" "Careless Whisper" "I Want Your Sex " "Lady Marmalade"
Second leg "I Want Your Sex" "Hard Day" "Everything She Wants" "I'm Your Man" "A Different Corner" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Father Figure" "One More Try" "Faith" "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" "Careless Whisper" "Lady Marmalade" "I Want Your Sex"
Third leg "I Want Your Sex (Part I)" "Hard Day" "Father Figure" "I'm Your Man" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Everything She Wants" "A Different Corner" "Faith" "Monkey" "Hand to Mouth" "Play That Funky Music" "One More Try" "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" "Careless Whisper" "Lady Marmalade" "I Want Your Sex (Part II & III)"
Fourth leg "I Want Your Sex" "Faith" "Hard Day" "Everything She Wants" "I'm Your Man" "A Different Corner" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Father Figure" "One More Try" "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" "Lady Marmalade" "Careless Whisper"
1989
Shows + List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, number of available tickets, and amount of gross revenue Date City Country Venue Attendance Gross Asia19 February 1988TokyoJapanNippon Budokan20 February 198821 February 198823 February 1988OsakaOsaka-Jo Hall24 February 198826 February 1988NagoyaAichi Prefectural Gymnasium Oceania4 March 1988AucklandNew ZealandWestern Springs Stadium8 March 19889 March 1988PerthAustraliaPerth Entertainment Centre11 March 1988AdelaideMemorial Drive Park12 March 198813 March 1988CanberraBruce Stadium14 March 198817 March 1988SydneySydney Entertainment Centre18 March 198819 March 198824 March 1988BrisbaneBrisbane Entertainment Centre26 March 1988MelbourneMelbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre27 March 198828 March 19882 April 1988 North America5 April 1988HonoluluUnited StatesBlaisdell Arena14,799 / 14,799$320,108Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 23 April 1988 (P. 23)6 April 1988 Europe12 April 1988RotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam Ahoy13 April 198814 April 198816 April 198818 April 1988ParisFranceZénith de Paris21 April 1988OsloNorwayDrammenshallen22 April 1988GothenburgSwedenScandinavium23 April 19889 May 1988FrankfurtWest GermanyFesthalle11 May 1988MunichOlympiahalle12 May 1988ViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle16 May 1988MilanItalyMilan Arena17 May 198820 May 1988RomePalazzo dello Sport21 May 1988VeronaStadio Marcantonio Bentegodi 23 May 1988ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadion24 May 198826 May 1988LyonFrancePalais des Sports de Gerland27 May 1988MontpellierLe Zénith30 May 1988ParisPalais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy31 May 19882 June 1988HamburgWest GermanySporthalle Hamburg3 June 198810 June 1988LondonEnglandEarls Court11 June 198812 June 198814 June 198815 June 198816 June 198818 June 1988GlasgowScotlandSECC Hall 419 June 198823 June 1988BirminghamEnglandNEC Arena24 June 198825 June 1988 North America6 August 1988LandoverUnited StatesCapital Centre29,331 / 29,331$586,6207 August 19889 August 1988PhiladelphiaThe Spectrum31,725 / 31,725$611,61210 August 198811 August 1988HartfordHartford Civic Center14 August 1988New York CityMadison Square Garden51,312 / 51,312$1,129,905Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 3 September 1988 (P. 22)15 August 198816 August 198819 August 1988MansfieldGreat Woods Center20 August 198821 August 1988East RutherfordBrendan Byrne Arena18,704 / 18,704$360,96123 August 1988MontrealCanadaStade Olympique21,640 / 35,000$520,70125 August 1988OttawaCCE27 August 1988TorontoCNE Stadium45,289 / 45,289$996,28729 August 1988Auburn HillsUnited StatesThe Palace of Auburn Hills33,822 / 33,822$676,44030 August 19881 September 1988PittsburghCivic Arena14,189 / 14,189$252,001Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 17 September 1988 (P. 26)2 September 1988RichfieldRichfield Coliseum23,984 / 23,984$479,6803 September 19886 September 1988RosemontRosemont Horizon28,724 / 28,724$646,2907 September 19889 September 1988East TroyAlpine Valley Music Theatre20,302 / 20,302$388,944Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 1 October 1988 (P. 24)11 September 1988LexingtonRupp Arena17,674 / 17,674$353,48013 September 1988Saint PaulSt. Paul Civic Center15,678 / 15,678$305,72117 September 1988Greenwood VillageFiddler's Green Amphitheatre28,386 / 36,000$515,607Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 8 October 1988 (P. 34)18 September 198822 September 1988TacomaTacoma Dome45,240 / 45,240$891,90023 September 198825 September 1988VancouverCanadaPacific Coliseum13,596 / 13,596$320,403Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 15 October 1988 (P. 24)27 September 1988Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre40,606 / 42,952$735,710Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 22 October 1988 (P. 46)28 September 198829 September 19882 October 1988InglewoodThe Forum42,382 / 42,382$902,7683 October 19884 October 19887 October 1988IrvineIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre43,936 / 45,000$1,007,600Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses - Billboard, 29 October 1988 (P. 28)8 October 19889 October 198811 October 1988San DiegoSan Diego Sports Arena11,700 / 11,700$247,65914 October 1988IrvingTexas Stadium38,564 / 41,000$846,92316 October 1988HoustonThe Summit13,256 / 15,000$308,89318 October 1988New OrleansLouisiana Superdome24,000 / 30,000$450,55520 October 1988AtlantaAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium23 October 1988OrlandoCitrus Bowl34,547 / 35,000$667,84026 October 1988TampaExpo Hall10,288 / 10,288$223,32229 October 1988MiamiOrange Bowl34,439 / 35,000$663,40031 October 1988PensacolaPensacola Civic Center9,274 / 9,274$178,386 Europe1 July 1989MadridSpainPlaza de Toros de Las Ventas4 July 1989MálagaEstadio La Rosaleda6 July 1989BarcelonaEstadi de Sarrià
Cancellations and rescheduled shows