John Lydon recently opened up about his relationship with his former Sex Pistols bandmates. He revealed a painful betrayal following his wife’s death in a statement shared with The Times.
The statement focused on how his former bandmates failed to reach out to him after he lost his wife Nora Forster in 2023. She died following her long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“You have to consider all the possibilities because that kind of pain is so overwhelming,” Lydon said. “Losing my wife is the greatest tragedy in my life so far. She taught me everything about love. I expected some kind of connection from Sex Pistols members when Nora died, but nothing.”
When asked if he would ever consider jumping behind the mic with his old band, Lydon was clear about his position.
“No. I still have a very great fondness for the chaps from that period,” he said. “What they evolved — or devolved — into since is another consequence.”
This revelation highlights the ongoing rift between Lydon and his former Sex Pistols bandmates. The rift stems from their lack of support during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
The absence of support from his former bandmates becomes even more significant when considering the depth of Lydon’s relationship with Nora Forster. Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Nora Forster was a German publishing heiress who passed away in April 2023 at the age of 80. She died due to complications relating to her battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The couple’s relationship spanned an extraordinary 44 years. They married in 1979. Eamonn Karran noted that Lydon often described their relationship as loyal and supportive. This makes the silence from his former bandmates even more painful during his time of grief.
The specific bandmates who failed to reach out include guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock. The Independent confirmed that these former Sex Pistols members did not contact Lydon when Nora Forster died. This occurred despite their shared history and the significance of the loss.
The depth of Lydon’s grief and his continued connection to his late wife is evident in his current living situation. AOL revealed that Lydon sleeps next to his late wife Nora Forster’s ashes. This demonstrates the profound impact her death has had on his daily life.
While Lydon and Forster didn’t share any biological children of their own, he became stepfather to Forster’s daughter Ariane. They created a blended family that lasted nearly five decades before Nora’s passing in 2023.
