John Lydon Reveals Struggle Picking Between Eurovision, Wife; Says Leaving Her 'Disturbs' Him

John Lydon Reveals Struggle Picking Between Eurovision, Wife; Says Leaving Her 'Disturbs' Him
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

John Lydon revealed how hard it was to leave his wife to compete to become Ireland's representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Lydon's scored the public's attention through his song, "Hawaii," which serves as a love letter to his wife of 44 years. However, he lost his bid to represent Ireland after losing to Wild Youth following a vote earlier this month. The winning band performed "We Are One" during the selection.

In a recently-published interview with The Sunday Times before the competition in Dublin, he opened up about how disturbing it was to leave his wife Nora to participate in the bid. The former Sex Pistols singer explained how her Alzheimer's disease diagnosis also shaped him to become the person he is now.

"All the things I thought were the ultimate agony seem preposterous now," he said. "It's shaped me into what I am. I don't think I'll ever get over it. I don't see how I can live without her. I wouldn't want to. There's no point."

Lydon noted that the challenging journey has been "worth every moment."

Although he did not secure the slot to enter the Eurovision song contest, Lydon said he did not regret anything as his appearance helped raise awareness for the neurodegenerative disease.

John Hopkins Medicine describes Alzheimer's disease as the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which happens when nerve cells in a person's brain die.

John Lydon's Wife Diagnosed With Alzheimer's Disease

Before his interview with The Sunday Times was released, he emotionally appeared on "This Morning" (via Daily Mail) and shared with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield his wife's heartbreaking health issue.

John Lydon's wife, Nora Foster, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. The two got married in 1979.

"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," he said as he tried to control his tears.

According to Lydon, the song he wrote for his wife tells the public not to ask a lot of questions and be happy for the people they love instead. Although the track also highlights a huge tragedy, it offers a message that "love conquers all."

He also noted that music "organizes" his wife's brain.

Lydon said his wife now requires 24-hour attention. Despite that, he does not mind anything because of the amazing life she gave him.

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