Andrew Lloyd Webber described himself as a recovering alcoholic, having begun a downhill spiral a year and a half ago that left his family in a desperate state. He attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Switzerland as part of his recovery journey. Meanwhile, his brother Julian Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he kept secret until after his birthday concert.
Julian Lloyd Webber recently returned to the concert platform after a 12-year absence due to a career-threatening injury. The absence was caused by a herniated disc from repeated bowing action, which forced him to sell his Stradivarius cello. He began learning to play again last year, marking a significant comeback in his musical career.
I did not want to let anyone down, so I kept my diagnosis secret until after my birthday concert, but now I need to begin treatment as soon as possible.
In his distinguished career, Julian Lloyd Webber performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics and won a Brit Award for his recording of Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto. He was made an OBE in 2021 for services to music, recognizing his contributions to the classical music world.
I am encouraged by the expectations of the medical team and look forward to making a full recovery. I am not intending to cancel engagements and I won't comment any further on this matter until after the treatment.
I began just playing scales a few weeks ago. I tried a whole piece, but quickly realised it was not going to work. I had to build up to it. So I did 15 minutes, then half an hour. Then I managed an hour. Now I can't wait for the concert. I just hope I can do it.