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PUNK LYGEND

Who is Sex Pistols John Lydon and who was his wife Nora Foster?

JOHN Lydon rose to fame as the enigmatic lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols in the 1970s.

His wife Nora tragically lost her battle with Alzheimer's in April 2023. Here, we look at his career and their relationship together.

John Lydon went by the name Johnny Rotten
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John Lydon went by the name Johnny RottenCredit: PA

Who is John Lydon?

John Lydon is best known as the lead singer of iconic punk rock band the Sex Pistols between 1975 and 1978.

Known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, given to him by guitarist Steve Jones in reference to the bad condition of his teeth, The Sex Pistols scored a number one album with their only studio record, Never Mind the B*****ks, Here's the Sex Pistols.

The band broke up in 1978 after a dispute with manager Malcolm McClaren.

Lydon formed Public Image Limited in 1978 following his departure.

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The band produced eight albums and multiple singles, including Public Image, Death Disco, and Rise, before they went on hiatus in 1993 and reformed in 2009.

Rotten returned to perform with the Sex Pistols on three occasions afterwards, splitting up for the last time in 2008. The band were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006, but refused to attend the ceremony.

In 2023, Lydon and his PiL band entered the race to become Ireland's Eurovision entry after a failed attempt in 2018.

They ultimately lost out in the qualifying round.

In 2004 John appeared on I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, withdrawing after 11 days.

He went on to appear in advertisements promoting Country Life, a brand of British butter, wrote two autobiographies, and produced solo musical work, such as the album Psycho's Path.

Who was John Lydon's wife Nora Foster?

Lydon's wife Nora tragically died aged 80 on April 6, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

She was a German publishing heiress who was born on November 6, 1942.

John and Nora married in 1979 after meeting in Vivienne Westwood's Sex shop in 1975.

In 2018, John revealed that his wife was in the mid-stages of the disease.

In June 2020 he said that he had become full-time carer for his wife as her condition was deteriorating.

Does John Lydon have any children?

John does not have any biological children.

However, John became stepfather to Nora’s daughter, Ariane, best known as German singer Ari Up.

In 2000, John and Nora became legal guardians of Ari's twin teenaged boys as John said Ari "couldn't cope with them any more".

Ari passed away in October 2010 at 48 years old from breast cancer and John and Nora became guardians of her third child.

What is John Lydon's net worth?

According to John is worth an estimated $1million as of 2023.

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John will have made his fortune through his successful music career as well as other ways.

The star has been able to earn money through various TV deals as well as his multiple books.

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