GLOBAL rock icon David Bowie took some hard knocks during his climb to fame - especially in Maidstone.

According to an interview published on a fan website, the 56-year-old fashion chameleon lived in the town during the early 1960s, before anyone had heard of Ziggy Stardust. His memories of the town are pretty bleak.

In the interview, Bowie recalls living in cramped conditions in a Maidstone house with the other six members of the Rhythm and Blues band, the Manish Boys, who were all from the area.

But his enduring memory is getting a senseless beating from a local thug. In the interview, Bowie said: "It was just this big Herbert walking down the street. He just knocked me down on the pavement and when I fell down, he proceeded to kick me for no reason that I can fathom to this day. I haven't got many good memories of Maidstone."

He added: "It was just survival. The band was so huge, it was dreadful."

During the 60s, the Manish Boys, which Bowie joined as a singer, played at the Star Club in Maidstone. Although the band never hit the dizzy heights of stardom, they did a six-date concert tour of England as part of a Gerry and The Pacemakers Tour in December 1964.

* Were you a band member or did you see the Manish Boys in Maidstone? Email ehall@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Emily Hall, 6-7 Middle Row, Maidstone, ME14 1TG.