Andrew Lloyd Webber breaks silence on alcohol relapse

Andrew Lloyd Webber is getting candid about a personal struggle, sharing that he privately resumed drinking after once declaring himself sober.

The 78-year-old composer shared that although he stopped drinking around 2016 while working on School of Rock, he later relapsed in private and only sought proper help just over a year ago.

Speaking candidly to The Times, he admitted, “I was doing what they call ‘white-knuckling’, without any back-up, and I started to worry that I wasn’t being creative.”

He continued, “And I thought, ‘But I’ve said to everybody that I’m not drinking.’ So, I started to drink secretly...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.”

The Cats composer described falling into a “downward spiral” in 2024, with his family growing increasingly concerned. 

“You think it’s secret, but it’s not. Everybody knows… My wife was feeling she couldn’t go on,” he recalled.

He eventually turned to Alcoholics Anonymous, attending meetings in Switzerland and the UK, where he found a strong sense of belonging.

“What I love about it is, you go into a room and everybody’s equal,” he shared.

Now attending meetings daily, he said his turning point came when he recognized the “stupidity” and secrecy of addiction. “I am deeply sorry and I can only apologise to people if I made a mess,” he added.

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