Former Sex Pistol John Lydon is struggling to hold back tears as he revealed his song for the Eurovision bid, representing Ireland, is dedicated to his wife Nora.
The Irish-British punk rocker, 66 – best known by his stage name Johnny Rotten – will compete in the 2023 competition alongside his band Public Image Ltd.
But in an emotional interview about an anticipated opportunity to perform later this year, John’s favorite track, Hawaii, fills him with emotion as he reflects on the relationship he has shared with his wife for over 40 years.
Emotional: Former Sex Pistol John Lydon struggled to hold back tears as he revealed his song for the Eurovision bid, representing Ireland, is dedicated to his wife Nora (pictured together in 2001)
Speaking to The Sun, John looked at the lyrics that read “Remember me, I remember you” and was overcome by the sadness of the illness.
“We once had a great vacation in Hawaii after a tour and it was just the greatest week of our lives.
“Now her memories are fading, I wanted to bring something like that back to her. I leave just thinking about it.’
Originally formed in 1978 but later discontinued; John is now joined by punk bandmates Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith.
Opportunity: The Irish-British punk rocker, 66 – best known by his stage name Johnny Rotten – is set to compete in the 2023 competition alongside his band Public Image Ltd (pictured in 2022)
From the heart: But in an emotional interview about the prospect of an opportunity to perform later this year, John’s favorite track, Hawaii, fills him with emotion as he reflects on the relationship he has shared with his wife for over 40 years (pictured together).
Announcing the news on Twitter, the band said they will be kicking off with a previously unheard song titled “Hawaii,” dedicated to John’s wife Nora, who has Alzheimer’s.
Adding context to her song choices, John said, “It’s dedicated to everyone who’s going through tough times on life’s journey with the person they care about most.
“It’s also a message of hope that love will eventually conquer all.”
John rose to fame in the ’70s with The Sex Pistols alongside guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977.
Tribute: Speaking to The Sun, John has gazed at the lyrics that read ‘Remember me, I remember you’ and was overcome by the sadness of the illness
Lydon was the lead singer from 1975 to 1978 and later led the band on various revivals in the 1990s and 2000s.
The Sex Pistols’ sole album, Never Mind the B*****ks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) – a number one in the UK – is now a staple of punk rock.
But in 1978 John formed Public Image Ltd, with the band’s first line-up consisting of bassist Jah Wobble and ex-Clash guitarist Keith Levene.
Former fame: John rose to fame in the 1970s with The Sex Pistols alongside guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977
In 1987 a new line-up was formed consisting of John, former Siouxsie and Banshees guitarist John McGeoch, Allan Dias on bass guitar, and drummers Smith and Edmunds.
They were also joined by Curt Bisquera on drums and Gregg Arreguin on rhythm guitar for the album That What Is Not.
After the band wrote the song Criminal for the film Point Break and released an album in 1993, John Public Image Ltd went on indefinitely.
Now: The punk rocker – best known by his stage name Johnny Rotten – is set to join forces with his band Public Image Ltd. apply for a place at Eurovision 2023
But now they are ready for their return, as could be seen after Sam Ryder’s second-place finish in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest competition in Liverpool.
John – whose mother is from County Cork and father from Galway – will see his band compete with fellow contestants ADGY, CONNOLLY, Wild Youth, Leila Jane and K Muni + ND.
In recent years, the musician has distanced himself from The Sex Pistols – most recently last year after the death of Queen Elizabeth.
John has accused his former band, the Sex Pistols, of “distastefully” trying to capitalize on the Queen’s death with their punk single God Save The Queen.
Punk Pioneers: (LR) Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols during their recent tour
The then-singer said he distanced himself from any activity by the band aimed at promoting their 1977 track, claiming it was “disrespectful” of the royal family.
John wrote the lyrics to God Save The Queen and the anti-royalist song was known to have been released just before the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
In a series of tweets, he claimed the Sex Pistols approved “a number of requests” against his will, as he accused the band of trying to “cash in” on Her Majesty’s death.
But a Sex Pistols rep called John’s comments “stunning” and said they didn’t understand what the singer was referring to in his tweets.
‘It’s disrespectful’: The 66-year-old singer said he ‘dissociated himself’ from any activity by the band aimed at promoting their 1977 track, claiming it was ‘disrespectful’ of the royal family
It’s not the first time that John has had conflicts with his former band, the Sex Pistols, having previously criticized the band’s biopic, Pistol.
The punk rocker has been very critical of the Disney+ miniseries in the run-up to it, claiming he was deliberately banned from the show, which co-stars with his former bandmates Paul Cook and Steve Jones.
In May, just before release, he doubled down on his comments while appearing on This Morning, accusing Disney, director Danny Boyle and his former bandmates of “secreting” and “banning him” from the show.
Host Alison Hammond spoke to John and read a statement from the director, which said: “Danny Boyle has previously said, ‘I love Lydon for what he does and I don’t want him to like it right. Why would you change the habit of your life?” That’s Danny Boyle.”
Pointed: The punk rocker has been highly critical of the upcoming Disney+ miniseries, which was directed by Danny Boyle (pictured in May)
John quickly chimed in, remarking “You asshole,” prompting Alison and Dermot O’Leary to apologize for his glittering language.
John also said: “Danny Boyle … never bothered to even speak to me so his behavior on this is really quite appalling.
“It seems like a gigantic effort to deny that I really exist… Instead of dealing with me, they went into this fake.
“Well by not showing me the script that tells me secrecy. And secrecy to me implies lying.’
Despite everything, John said he was watching the show because he “has to”.
“It’s about me,” he said. “But it excludes me.”
Dermot included a right of reply from Disney, which claims Danny contacted John’s management about the series, “but direct contact has been declined.”
Last year, Steve Jones hit back at John’s comments, urging him to “grow up and move on,” saying he doesn’t understand why the singer is so upset with the series.
The 66-year-old rock guitarist insisted the show be about him and not John as it is based on his memoir Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol.
“I don’t have time for all this shit anymore,” he told The Sun.
“You just have to grow up and move on. The show is about me, not John, although obviously he’s a big part of it.”
Fighting back: Steve Jones (pictured right with Paul Cook) has urged his former bandmate John to ‘grow up and move on’ after expressing his anger at the new Pistol series