John Lydon's wife Nora Forster passes away after Alzheimer's battle 

Nora Forster, 80, was the inspiration behind Lydon's Eurosong entry for Ireland, entitled 'Hawaii'

 Nora Forster and John Lydon in 2013. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images)

The wife of former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon (also known as Johnny Rotten) has passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Nora Forster, 80, was the inspiration behind Lydon's Eurosong entry for Ireland 'Hawaii'.

The 66-year-old singer described the song as a love letter to his wife of nearly five decades, and said it was dedicated "to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most". 

Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years, and Lydon had become her full-time carer.

John Lydon had dedicated his Eurosong entry to his wife. 

Speaking to journalists ahead of his performance on The Late Late Show's Eurosong Special, Lydon, who is the son of Eileen Barry from Carrigrohane near Ballincollig in Cork, said the disease was "debilitating".

"It is the saddest thing of all to watch the slow, slow deterioration and demise of someone you have loved for 45 years."

"These are the last few years of coherence together and I miss her like mad."

2/2 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.

Photo @ Andy Cantillon / JRJL Productions 2010

— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 6, 2023

Sharing the news on their Twitter account, Lydon's band Public Image Ltd. said, "It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster - John Lydon's wife of nearly 5 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."

Nora was the daughter of wealthy German publisher Franz Karl Maier who worked for news outlets including Der Spiegel and Der Tagesspiegel.

Lydon has said he first met her 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.

His Eurovision bid song was titled Hawaii in tribute to a trip they took together, as he said it was a memory that stood out in her mind.

“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.”