John Lydon breaks down in tears as he discusses his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s 

John Lydon broke down about his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife Nora Forster on Tuesday’s This Morning – just after awkwardly slamming Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for his introduction to the daytime show. 

The Irish-British punk rocker, 66 – best known by his stage name Johnny Rotten – was talking about his new Eurovision bid song Hawaii which is dedicated to Nora.

The Sex Pistols singer married the German publishing heiress, 80, in 1979 and first revealed his wife’s devastating diagnosis in 2018. 

Tough: John Lydon broke down in tears while speaking about caring for his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife Nora Forster on Tuesday’s This Morning

Speaking on the daytime show he opened up about having to watch his wife suffer and the song he subsequently wrote.

He said: ‘It took me four years to do the lyrics to the song. Alzheimer’s is an enormous problem, at the moment it’s incurable and I struggle to find and keep a relationship with Nora and me. 

‘The song, it tells you not to ask lots of questions and to be happy for them. It’s a love song, with huge tragedy in it and the message that love does conquer all.

Couple: The singer married the German publishing heiress, 80, in 1979 and first revealed his wife’s devastating diagnosis in 2018 (pictured in 2013)

‘Music is fantastic it organises her brain!’

Reflecting on their romance he added: ‘At this time in our lives, we were imagining doing nothing. 

‘That’s not the case anymore, she requires 24 hour attention and I don’t mind it now, due to the amazing life she’s given me.’

The chat about his wife came after he had an awkward moment with Holly and Phil while being introduced to the show.

Plan: The Irish-British punk rocker, 66 – best known by his stage name Johnny Rotten – was talking about his new Eurovision bid song Hawaii which is dedicated to Nora

As the presenters introduced the punk rocker as ‘John’ and with a montage of his career highlights from the Sex Pistols, he snapped: ‘Johnny!’ and then blasted them for over their introduction. 

Awkwardly he then said: ‘Let me say, your introduction was a bit lousy’ to which Phil replied: ‘We couldn’t fit it all in, so we thought it better to come to you.’

Johnny then said: ‘Well it would have been better if you’d started at the top and ended at the bottom!’

Phil diffused the tension and said with a smile: ‘Do your intro, how would you like to be introduced?’ and Johnny paused before he finally laughed and said: ‘Oh, superstar.’

He added: ‘You know you’re dead right. I have never accepted titles anyway, so what the hell.’

The star recently revealed his Eurovision bid song representing Ireland is dedicated to his partner.

He hopes to win the spot alongside his band Public Image Ltd for the 2023 competition, with the track, titled Hawaii.

Opening up about the song, he said on GMB recently: ‘This is the beginning of a new journey. Oddly enough, as bad as Alzheimer’s is, there are great moments of tenderness between us.

‘I try to capture that in the song. It’s not all waiting for the Grim Reaper. I can see the personality in her eyes that lets me know.

‘Her communication skills are letting her down. I’m just blessed that I can be there and catch on to that and pass something useful on to other people.

Sad: He said: ‘It took me four years to do the lyrics to the song. Alzheimer’s is an enormous problem, at the moment it’s incurable and I struggle to find and keep a relationship with Nora and me’ (pictured in 2005)

‘I care now for all of its victims. Particularly spouses that have to endure this. What you’ve got to do is fight.’

John’s track of choice Hawaii is full of emotion for him as he looked at the relationship he has shared with his wife of over 40 years.

Speaking to The Sun, John recently looked upon the lyrics which read ‘remember me, I remember you,’ and becoming overwhelmed at the sadness of the illness.

‘We spent a magnificent holiday in Hawaii after a tour once and it was just the greatest week of our lives.

‘Now her memories are fading, I wanted to bring something like that back to her. I get broke up even thinking about it.’

Initially formed in 1978 but later put on hiatus; John will now be joined by punk bandmates Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith. 

Announcing the news on Twitter, the band said they will compete with a previously unheard song titled Hawaii – dedicated to John’s wife Nora.

Opportunity: The Irish-British punk rocker will bid for the spot alongside his band Public Image Ltd for the 2023 competition (pictured in 2022)

See also  Jamie Laing embarrassed after failing his car theory test three times

Providing context to their choice of song, John shared: ‘It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.

‘It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.’ 

John found fame with The Sex Pistols in the Seventies alongside guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977. 

Lydon was the lead singer from 1975 until 1978, later fronting the band for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s. 

Punk pioneers: (L-R) John, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols during their final tour