Nora Forster, the wife of singer John Lydon, has died aged 80 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years.
The 67-year-old former Sex Pistols frontman, also known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, was his wife’s full-time carer following the diagnosis and raised awareness of the condition through his recent attempt to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023 with a song he dedicated to Forster.
A statement posted on Lydon’s Twitter, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster – John Lydon’s wife of nearly five decades – has passed away.
“Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. In which time John had become her full-time carer.
“Please respect John’s grief and allow him space.
“Rest in Peace Nora. Heart felt condolences to John from Rambo and all at PiL Official.”
Forster was the daughter of wealthy German publisher Franz Karl Maier who worked for news outlets including Der Spiegel and Der Tagesspiegel.
Lydon, whose parents came from Cork and Galway, has said he first met Forster in 1975 at the late artist Malcolm McLaren’s clothing shop which he owned with Vivienne Westwood in London.
In January, Lydon told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that they had been together for 45 years.
The song he entered in his unsuccessful bid to represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision was titled Hawaii in tribute to a trip they took together, as he said it was a memory that stood out in her mind. The song lost out to We Are One by the Irish band Wild Youth after a public vote.
“As I say in the song, old journeys end and some begin again, but this is the beginning of a new journey with us,” he said.
“And, oddly enough, as bad as Alzheimer’s is, there are great moments of tenderness between us. And I tried to capture that in the song, and so it’s not all waiting for the Grim Reaper. I can see her personality in her eyes, she lets me know that it’s the communication skills that are letting her down.
“And I’m just blessed really that I can be there and catch on to that and maybe share that information as this progresses, as we know it will, to its ultimate sad demise.
“Pass something useful on to other people. It’s a subject now that I’m so firmly tied up and wrapped up and connected to that I care now for all of its victims. Particularly to spouses that have to endure this.”
Forster was also the mother of the late musician Ari-Up, best known as a member of the English punk rock band the Slits, who died in 2010 after a “serious illness”, according to Lydon’s website.
[ John Lydon: ‘I’m not the world’s most perfect person’Opens in new window ]
Following the news, the chief admiral nurse and chief executive at Dementia UK, Hilda Hayo, said: “We’re sorry to hear that John’s wife Nora has died having lived with Alzheimer’s for several years and send our condolences to him and his family.
“John has raised a huge amount of awareness around the impact that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can have through his work in recent months. Through sharing his personal experience, he will no doubt have helped others seek the support they need.
“The death of someone close is one of the most difficult experiences many of us will ever face, and we hope he receives the support he needs while he is grieving.
“We urge families affected by dementia to reach out to our specialist helpline.” - PA
