Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Friendship Strained Over Musical Dispute

A recent dispute over the inclusion of songs in the new musical "Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas" has reportedly caused a rift between longtime collaborators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, potentially straining a friendship that has spanned five decades.

The musical, which features six songs co-written by the duo, has seen these contributions either "withdrawn" or "ditched," leading to conflicting accounts of responsibility.

Lloyd Webber, who recently revealed he is in recovery from alcoholism, stated that the producers, Rice's children Eva and Donald, made "ridiculous demands" and asked him to sign away his rights for five years without approval. He added that it would have been impossible for him to undertake further work on the project due to his demanding schedule.

A source close to Lloyd Webber suggested that his newfound clarity stemming from sobriety may have influenced his stance. "Andrew has new-found clarity because he has got sober, and that will have been a factor [in this falling out]," the source told the Daily Mail. "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."

Conversely, Tim Rice told The Times that Lloyd Webber "really didn’t want to continue with the show" and was more focused on larger productions. Composer Howard Goodall has since written new songs for the production.

The partnership between Lloyd Webber and Rice began in 1965 when Rice, then 20, wrote to a 17-year-old Lloyd Webber offering his services. Together, they created iconic musicals such as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Evita." Despite their monumental success, the pair have occasionally faced creative disagreements, including a notable one in 1975 during the development of a show based on Jeeves and Wooster.

While both men have pursued separate successful careers since "Evita," they have collaborated on occasion, including contributing songs to a revival of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2011 and writing "You Must Love Me" for the 1996 film version of "Evita." Their collaborations have been highly lucrative, with Lloyd Webber estimated to be worth over £500 million and Rice £150 million.

Despite the current friction, sources suggest there remains affection between the two friends, who reportedly see each other once or twice a year. "They are true friends but they don’t hang out together. They are not in each other’s pockets at all," a friend stated. "When they do it’s really glorious, they will fall into each other’s arms."