Former lead singer of The Sex Pistols says caring for his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease has transformed him and “shaped me into what I am.” He added that, “All the things I thought were the ultimate agony seem preposterous now.”
Former Sex Pistols singer says caring for Alzheimer’s-stricken wife has transformed him
Johnny Rotten (real name John Lydon) of the notorious and pioneering British punk band Sex Pistols says caring for his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife has transformed him: “I don’t see how I can live without her.”
The iconic punk singer, who helped launch a music revolution in the late 70s, recently opened up about caring for his publishing heiress wife of 44 years, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago.
Lydon, 67, and his wife, Nora, live in Southern California. He serves as his wife’s primary caregiver, and he told the Times UK that role has transformed him.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over it,” Lydon said.
“I don’t see how I can live without her,” Lydon continued. “I wouldn’t want to. There’s no point.”
“And, I’m sorry, but it’s worth every moment,” Lydon added. “No joy comes without pain and, boy, do I know that now.”
“You make your commitment to a person and nothing changes,” Lydon emphasized. “These are the cards life dealt, and my mum and dad were right: never show self-pity. Ever.”
“Did I ask for this?” Lydon pondered. “Would that be self-pity? Did Nora ask for this? That would not be self-pity — that would be a really viable question to the powers that be.”
The commitment to his wife has also seemingly put the priorities of life into perspective for Lydon.
“All the things I thought were the ultimate agony seem preposterous now,” Lydon noted. “It’s shaped me into what I am.”
Music commitments have now put Lydon in a tough spot
Last month, the Public Image Ltd singer revealed that he would be vying to represent Ireland with his band at this year’s Eurovision contest with a new song entitled “Hawaii,” New Music Express reported. He described the song as a “love letter” to his wife Nora.
“It brings tears to my eyes just even thinking about performing it live because I’ll be away from her,” Lydon told Good Morning Britain in January, Yahoo reported. “But I’ve got to do that.”
At the same time, the straight-talking punk rocker has not lost his edge. He lashed out at Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle who is pushing ahead with a Hulu series entitled Pistol, a fictional take on Sex Pistols rise to prominence, without Lydon’s blessing.
