The combination of three words, band, punk and rock, usually connects mentally with tough, alternative, dissolute, excessive types. Johnny Rotten did not fall short of expectations when in the seventies he was the leader of the Sex Pistols, the furious face of punk rock that sang of anarchy and exuded as much anger as he accumulated sickness among his fans, who were faithful and numerous. Their anti-establishment lyrics caused them to be banned by the BBC and rejected by two record companies, but the group started a musical trend that changed rock and pop. They broke up in 1978, Rotten formed another band Public Image Ltd, had more successes, and 30 years later the Sex Pistols were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recognized for their role in music. Now Rotten,whose real name is John Lydon is a 65-year-old man who lives in California, far from the hustle and bustle of his homeland, the United Kingdom, where other younger and less busy musicians clamor for the same things he sang in his songs.
Anarchy has been far away for the lead singer of the Sex Pistols and the main reason is that he is now dedicated to a goal that has little to do with music or leaving things to chance: taking care of his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease. Johnny Rotten and Nora Forster, who is currently 78 years old, have been together for 45 years, some reviews claim that they were married in 1979 but they have never confirmed it. Nora now needs order and calm and the old rocker is there to give it to her even at his own expense. He remains rebellious to rant about the new
biopic
that Danny Boyle prepares on Sex Pistols without having consulted him: “It is the most disrespectful shit I have had to endure. I'm sorry you think you can do this. It will not happen. Not without a great fight.
I'm Johnny Rotten and when you mess with me things get very ugly, "he said in a recent interview in
The Sunday Times
.
But his maximum concentration is focused on Nora, a full-time job caused by Alzheimer's, a disease that he defines as "a perverse, debilitating and slow process that we are going through together."
John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten, with his partner, Nora Forster in 2001. Fin Costello / Redferns
The singer's consolation is summarized by the words with which he referred to his wife in the emotional interview: “She does not forget me. Forget everything else except me. " Very realistically, he verbalizes that he knows that the disease is incurable and his wife will never improve, but explains that “you have to face it and put self-pity aside. It's something I can proudly say that my parents instilled in me from a young age: 'don't feel sorry for yourself, keep going.' And he almost launched a challenge to his followers: "God, if you know that damn Johnny Rotten can do it, damn it what is your excuse?"
The couple have lived in the United States since the eighties, a decision that was weighed down by the good climate in the area and the one lacking in London. "Blue skies cheer me up," says the artist in his meeting with
The Sunday Times
. They have lived for three decades in a house from 1910 that originally belonged to the actress Mae West and that to them seems "an enchanted castle." He does not lack money, he has other houses in Malibu and London, but he does not find help for his wife's problem, which is how he always refers to her, whether or not there are legal papers involved. "This disease is a great unknown," explains the former leader of the Sex Pistols. "Nora has always eaten healthy, it must be genetic but I'm open to any idea." And the artist goes on to describe his wife's life, which is his: “Traveling by plane scares her and she becomes disoriented in hotels. You need to know that things are yours: your chair, your teddy bear ... We like to watch comedies together and the news. I know it will deteriorate and this will turn into something terrible,but we are facing it with a sense of dignity. It would be easy enough to get away and say, 'it's not my responsibility,' but I'm John and when I commit it is forever and I stick with it. I am very proud to do the best I can for her. We have been together for 45 years; we are not going to change anything. We are a couple, we love each other, we adore each other ”.
He explains that Nora Forster, whom he calls Babbie, is physically fit and has always been very sociable, adventurous, and fun-loving.
But he is also aware of the dark side to which this disease leads and makes almost a plea directed at others who may find themselves in the same situation: “As a full-time caregiver, one can become quite suicidal.
I will have moments that are overwhelmingly sad and at the same time filled with rage.
But things are what they are, and you have to accept it and sadly I have to say that you almost enjoyed it from the experience.
Stay mentally intact and take pride in what you are doing.
Life must go on;
he must fight for life to the bitter end ".
Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones and Paul Cook, the Sex Pistols in 1977 Photo: Getty
Johnny Rotten knows what he's talking about. He grew up in North London in a family of Irish parents and with three other younger siblings. At the age of seven, he suffered meningitis that caused him to spend a year in hospital and that caused that when he woke up from the coma he did not even recognize his parents. He had to re-learn to eat, to walk, to speak ... "Having memory loss is terrifying," he now says about that time. “You feel abandoned and nobody tells you anything except those strangers, Mom and Dad, who keep showing up and you don't recognize. Those skills I am applying now with my dear wife. "
The couple have not had children, but Nora had a daughter, Ariane, from a previous marriage who went on to form a punk band, The Slits, in which she was a singer. Rotten believes that Nora's illness began to show signs precisely when Ariane died 11 years ago, at age 48, of breast cancer. “Losing her daughter was an inexplicable pain. From there, small problems emerged that accumulated. It happened so gradually, so slowly, that by the time it becomes definitive it is impossible to trace it. " Johnny Rotten, who bellowed against the English monarchy and who was expelled only three years ago from the place where he planned to celebrate his 62nd birthday for being too drunk, is now a naturalized citizen in the United States who has parked his vices: “I cannot be a drunk, I am a full time caregiver ”.Who shouted to the world "there is no future" in the chorus of the song
God save the queen
, now launch a message of hope: “Eliminate self-pity and face an obvious tragedy with an open mind. This is how the cards have fallen. This is what it is. This is your future. But that's not the end of your future. You will have a life later. You can only wait ”.
