Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Fallout Linked to Composer's Sobriety, Source Says

Andrew Lloyd Webber's newfound sobriety may be a factor in a recent falling out with his longtime professional partner, Tim Rice, according to a source close to the composer. The dispute centers on six songs Lloyd Webber contributed to a new show, "Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas," which has reportedly seen the music withdrawn or ditched.

Lloyd Webber, 78, publicly disclosed his struggles with alcoholism earlier this year, detailing a period of excessive drinking that led to his family expressing concern. He entered rehabilitation and has since adopted a more focused approach to his work. This increased clarity, the source suggests, may have influenced his stance in the disagreement with Rice.

"Andrew has new-found clarity because he has got sober, and that will have been a factor [in this falling out]," the source told Alison Boshoff. "This row is truly nothing much but it is a point of principle which is vital to people in the creative industries—and that is that if you are the creator then you get paid."

The source further stated that Donald and Eva Rice, who produced the Sherlock Holmes musical and are Tim Rice's children, made "ridiculous demands," to which Lloyd Webber responded, "No! Eff that."

Lloyd Webber stated that he was asked to sign away his rights for five years without approval over the use of his music in a production he hadn't seen and with a team he hadn't worked with before. He indicated that he could not undertake further work on the project due to his schedule.

Rice, however, has suggested that Lloyd Webber was not interested in continuing with the show, stating, "Andrew is more concerned with much bigger productions." Lloyd Webber's extensive theatrical empire includes co-writing the operatic musical "The Illusionist" and planning an immersive production of "The Phantom of the Opera."

Composer Howard Goodall has since written new songs for the Sherlock Holmes show. When asked if the new songs were superior to Lloyd Webber's, Rice responded, "I have no comment to make on that."

Lloyd Webber and Rice, who first collaborated in 1965, are known for their iconic musicals "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Evita." Their partnership has endured for over 50 years, though they have pursued independent projects. Lloyd Webber's notable works include "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera," while Rice has worked on "Chess" and Disney's "The Lion King."

Despite occasional disagreements, such as a falling out during the development of "Jeeves" in 1975, their collaborations have often resulted in significant successes. They most recently contributed songs to a 2011 revival of "The Wizard of Oz" and wrote "You Must Love Me" for the 1996 film adaptation of "Evita."

Sources indicate that while the two remain friends, their interactions are infrequent, perhaps seeing each other only once or twice a year. "They are true friends but they don't hang out together," the source noted. "They are not in each other's pockets at all."