The musical theatre impresario, 78, said he’d got into a “downhill spiral” more than a year ago
Andrew Lloyd Webber has admitted he is a recovering alcoholic. The musical theatre impresario, 78, opened up in a frank interview where he said he attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings daily.
Speaking to The Times, he said he’d got into a “downhill spiral” more than a year ago, explaining: “I am a recovering alcoholic. Sixteen months ago I decided that I needed help and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He added that for some time he focused on making it to midday to have his first drink, saying: “I started getting into a downhill spiral and about 18 months ago the family were in a desperate state. My wife was feeling she couldn’t go on.”
Lloyd Webber is among the most successful composers in history, creating 22 musicals, several of which have run for decades, including Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
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The composer spoke movingly about his visits to AA and how surprised he was that he enjoyed the visits, which take place in different locations depending on which of his London, Hampshire and New York homes he is at.
He said he’d sat with a “whole loads of rednecks” while visiting St Louis in Missouri, USA, and cites it as his most enjoyable meeting.
Three years ago his eldest son Nicholas died of cancer aged 43. Lloyd Webber said: “He was alcoholic. He was in a dreadful mess and came out of it. But I couldn’t help noticing how he’d changed.”
He also believes that his late dad William, an organist and teacher at the renowned Royal College of Music in London, was an alcoholic.
Lloyd Webber will now auction his extensive wine collection – a hobby of his since he was 15 – with £50,000-a-case Chateau Petrus among the items going under the hammer.
The composer began his career in the 1960s, forming a partnership with the lyricist Tim Rice, leading to West End and Broadway shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
He also appeared on a series of music theatre talent search shows for the BBC including How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and I’d Do Anything, which discovered actress and singer Jessie Buckley.
He was knighted in 1992 and made a life peer in 1997 and composed the anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III, called Make a Joyful Noise.
The composer is one of only 22 people to have achieved ‘EGOT’ status – by winning a Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
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