Bows and Arrows: The Autobiography

In this explosive, no-holds-barred account of the life of a globally renowned classical musician, Julian Lloyd Webber lifts the lid on a profession previously shrouded in mystery. From vivid descriptions of his childhood in one of the world’s most famous musical dynasties to unfiltered stories from his incredible career – including collaborations with such stars as Yehudi Menuhin, Joaquín Rodrigo, Elton John, and his brother, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Bows and Arrows reveals a cut-throat world of agents, promoters, record companies, violin dealers and substance abuse, laying bare the classical music industry as never before. With refreshing honesty and humour, Julian recounts the break-up of three of his four marriages, his lifelong passion for ensuring that every child has a chance to play a musical instrument and his devastation at the injury that forced him to stop playing and sell his Stradivarius cello in 2014. This earth-shattering loss, however, led him to discover a new calling as principal of a leading royal conservatoire and to double down on his efforts as a tireless champion of music education, working closely both with government and charities. Culminating in Julian’s return to the stage for the first time in twelve years, Bows and Arrows is a powerful story of passion, loss and a life reborn.