I knew him before he was Bowie, was the first columnist to rave about his music (Can't Help Thinking About Me - Pye) and he stayed at my flat many times in the 60s. Read about him in 65 My Life So Far.

In reply to the numerous calls and messages; yes I knew and helped David in the very early days. He was living with his (then) manager Ken Pitt around the corner from my (then) flat in St Andrews Mansions in Dorset Street. Later he got involved with the Mime Lindsey Kemp. Many stories, memories and recollections - most recounted in 65 or 70 (my autobiogs). Culminated one evening in a restaurant where I was dining with Alan (Fluff) Freeman and David was having a meal with Mick Ronson. Read all about it; buy the books (both available at Amazon as downloads).

JK2006 wrote:
In reply to the numerous calls and messages; yes I knew and helped David in the very early days. He was living with his (then) manager Ken Pitt around the corner from my (then) flat in St Andrews Mansions in Dorset Street. Later he got involved with the Mime Lindsey Kemp. Many stories, memories and recollections - most recounted in 65 or 70 (my autobiogs). Culminated one evening in a restaurant where I was dining with Alan (Fluff) Freeman and David was having a meal with Mick Ronson. Read all about it; buy the books (both available at Amazon as downloads).

To us these were our idols,to you they were friends....sad news...and stay safe Mr King.

I recall when I ran a shop in Chelsea and Angie ordered a great mass of pottery. I delivered and unpacked it and helped her shelve it in a house off Kings Road. But the house was so normal I was quite puzzled. And then David came in and said 'hello' and went upstairs.

It just didn't seem like Rock'n'Roll.

Met him a few times after but last saw him at a press conference in Sydney 3 years ago. Had a very odd feeling on his birthday & wondered if his time was up- I always get these spooky feelings before someone dies. Certainly kept his cancer a big secret & don't blame him.

A great example of a Capricorn- they get better & better with age.

Ground Control to Brixton Boy, "Rock In Perpetuity".

Interesting hearing Bob Harris compare Bowie to Newley (all to do with the label, dear; I well remember that time) and Dana Gillespie discussing him. Ah yes!

Bromley and Beckenham I seem to remember, and links to my friend Hampton's Dad (Peter Frampton).

From 1960; this is Anthony Newley - who was perhaps the biggest influence on young David when I knew him in 1965.

Song penned by the mighty Lionel Bart.

"He started off as a Mime artiste" said the BBC. Wrong! Like Wikipedia, all the facts slightly wrong. Those of us who knew him when he was a wannabe pop star - like many who broke in the 70s, he was a total failure in the 60s; Rod, Elton, Gary, Marc, David - all desperately trying in the 60s but there was no room for them (there were too many of us and we were better). When us 60s stars faded, they moved in. I remember one evening in bed being woken by a call from him to drive out to Golders Green to watch his mime show. "I'm asleep", I said. "If you don't come I won't go on", he said. So I drove out there (BORING - Mime always was SO dull).

JK2006 wrote:
"He started off as a Mime artiste" said the BBC. Wrong! Like Wikipedia, all the facts slightly wrong. Those of us who knew him when he was a wannabe pop star - like many who broke in the 70s, he was a total failure in the 60s; Rod, Elton, Gary, Marc, David - all desperately trying in the 60s but there was no room for them (there were too many of us and we were better). When us 60s stars faded, they moved in. I remember one evening in bed being woken by a call from him to drive out to Golders Green to watch his mime show. "I'm asleep", I said. "If you don't come I won't go on", he said. So I drove out there (BORING - Mime always was SO dull).


I remember Noddy Holder was not so impressed by that Mr King....but you won that debate hands down....good facts,well presented....

....when you think of the talent that wasn't talented enough during the 60s....it really must have been an incredible era....

RIP David Jones/Bowie

Indeed Pat; some friends, some acquaintances, some colleagues - but whether it be Cilla or Davy Jones (the original - a Monkee and Corrie star) or this Davie - dropping like flies. Death is inevitable.

Listening to clips from interviews brought many memories back but if asked which words most summed up my opinion of Mr Bowie in the 60s I'd say - highly ambitious.

I'm not convinced by this argument that the 60s artists were better than Bowie. Its just that he hadn't found his feet artistically. Those singles he recorded with bands like the Lower Third were below-average and dull and then he went through the Anthony Newley phase which was completely out of step with the late-60s youth culture. I'm surprised though that the 'Space Oddity' album he recorded in 1969 didn't match the success of its title song. Its a great album.

My mother knew him long before he was famous. She vividly remembers sitting in the now gone Chequers pub in Bromley with David telling her not to worry, it was ok to be different. She had just found out she was going to be an unmarried mum back when that was so frowned upon it actually caused her parents to move a few miles away to escape the shame.
She never forgot his way of putting everything in to perspective and saying the kindest things.
Needless to say she was heartbroken when she heard the news.