Sir Tom Jones had a reputation as a brawler in his youth and was once head-butted through a chip shop window, it has been claimed.
A new book on the ‘Voice’ star features interviews with friends he grew up with in Pontypridd, South Wales.
They tell how former Teddy Boy Tom was fond of a “backstreet rumble” and had to “fight to prove himself”.
Author Colin MacFarlane says Sir Tom later underwent two nose jobs to repair damage from his teenage years.
Describing one alleged fight, he wrote: "He got into a scrap with another fellow who was annoyed because Tom had beaten-up one of his mates.
"The guy in question was quick off the mark and head-butted Tom through a fish and chip show window.
"When Tom scrambled out covered in glass, two policemen were standing there.
"They said if Tom lifted a finger to touch the other guy they’d run him in. Tom was a bit of a wild man with a knack for getting himself into trouble.
"Tom had to fight to prove himself. It was considered normal for the times."
‘Delilah’ singer Sir Tom grew up in south Wales under his real surname of ‘Woodward’.
The new book ‘Sir Tom Jones: 80’ is being released this year to mark the star’s birthday and career, which has seen him sell more than 100 million records.
It reveals how the “fights came thick and fast” when he was growing up in the town of Pontypridd.
In the 80s Colin worked as a journalist in Sir Tom’s hometown, which suffered severe flooding last week.
Colin claims the star’s past as a brawler forced him to go under the knife.
He adds: "Tom became no amateur in a backstreet rumble. When he later became famous he had to have two expensive ‘nose jobs’ to put the results of his fighting days right.”
Sir Tom’s agent has been approached for comment on the claims.
By day he worked as a trainee glove cutter before “coming alive” at night through his close and music.
Colin writes: "After becoming the classic Teddy boy overnight he [Sir Tom] lived and breathed rock and roll.
"Locals who remember him describe him as a smart dresser. He loved fashionable waistcoats and cowboy type ties and wore his hair very long, which was frowned upon by the older inhabitants of Treforest in the 1950s.
"His mother had terrible battles with him to get his hair cut and only won if she resorted to bribery saying she would buy him a new shirt if he did so.
"Tom could be seen walking about the streets with a Teddy boy coat with trousers that were reckoned to be as narrow as the thinnest pair of drainpipes in Pontypridd."
On one occasion Sir Tom’s “fancy” for wearing tight belts is said to have triggered severe stomach ache.
His worried mum called in doctors after he was laid up in bed wearing his pyjamas.
Colin added: "Fearing that it could be food poisoning or something even worse, Tom’s mother ran over to the phone box and called the doctor. When the doctor arrived he took one look at Tom’s stomach and loosened the pyjama belt.
"The tired and overworked doctor shook his head in disbelief.
"He turned to Tom’s mother, pointed to the belt and said, ‘That’s the cause of the aches and pains.
"He’s tied it too tight."
