I had to read this a few times to understand what the hell Paul meant. He’s not saying he’s glad John died of AIDS. He means because John was this legand and his life was such a soap opera and he died of what is mostly thought of as an STD rather than being infected by some other way, that it was the perfect ironic end to the life of the king of porn. I think that’s what he meant.
From AdultFYI:
Porn was really cool back in the Eighties. Then when John Holmes died of AIDS in 1988, all of a sudden, it wasn’t as cool any more. The book John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches is an oral history of the most famous and controversial porn star of all time.
Holmes had the mythical monster cock and the party personality to go with it. But when Holmes died, it was the effect of someone turning the lights on the party and calling the cops. And the spirited Free Love movement which began in the Sixties and proceeded pretty much undisturbed over two decades all of a sudden had its rude awakenings, repercussions and finger-pointings.
In the blizzard of quotes and assembly of porn junkie recollections and anecdotes, one comment in this fascinating book by Jennifer Sugar and Jill C. Nelson really leaps off the page. Paul Thomas offers his thoughts upon hearing of Holmes’ death.
“When I found out he had AIDS,” says Thomas, “I was in denial because then I was scared that I had it. I wouldn’t test. It seemed the proper ending for Holmes, or anyone else in this business. It seemed not surprising at all, in fact, it was surprising that we all didn’t have it. That was amazing: not that he had it, but that we all didn’t have it. I’d crossed swords with him many times. He was with a girl and three seconds later, I was with her, so it was surprising that we all didn’t get it. The fact that he got it and died from it was perfect. Tragic, but perfect.”
Porn Star Babylon 
Jill Nelson
September 15, 2008
“It was the perfect ironic end to the life of the king of porn. I think that’s what he meant.”
That’s exactly what Thomas meant and nothing more.
His comment did not imply that he was pleased Holmes died of AIDS. Thomas was interviewed by Jennifer Sugar for our book, “John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches” and is quoted throughout. He and Holmes shared a friendly relationship. Thomas did not harbor any ill-will toward Holmes.
This reflection of his below is even more interesting:
“It seemed not surprising at all, in fact, it was surprising that we all didn’t have it. That was amazing: not that he had it, but that we all didn’t have it.”