John Lydon feels like "half" the man he was since the death of his wife

He has now told the Metro newspaper about his difficulties coping in the wake of Nora's death: "The truth of it is, I'm only half the person I was when she was alive."

John also admitted about how his loss has had a huge impact on him: "That's definite, I can feel that hollowness."

He also revealed he initially turned to alcohol in the wake of her death, though he has since tried to move forward.

John went on: "I've come out of wallowing in alcohol and sadness and self-pity. Which you can't avoid, it just happens, it's just in your nature."

The singer, who married Nora in 1979, has announced plans to tour with his band Public Image Ltd (PiL) as he continues to adjust to life without her. Reflecting on his performances now compared to the early days of his career with the Sex Pistols, he said: "In the very early days, I was not (disciplined) at all. I think nerves played a huge part in that."

"Being very shy - really - and just fearful of letting people down. I tried every kind of escapism, and I learned very quickly, it's punishing to be standing up there as a sad sack drunk. I never want to go through that ever again."

In a chat with Saga magazine, John recalled the moment he had to let Nora go. He said: "It was like half of me went with her. Her last day was really painful for her.

"She was very short of breath and uncomfortable and I knew the end was coming.

"It was awfully hard in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Her heart stopped a few times and she was on respirators, being artificially kept alive. "They said to me, 'We really can't do any more. Do we have your permission to stop', and, God, what a question to have to answer."