The following article by Cinzia D’Ambrosi appeared in the brochure she compiled to commemorate the Centenary of the Sulgrave Youth Club, held last month at the Club’s premises in the Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush:
‘While researching the history of the Sulgrave Youth Club, I inevitably crossed paths with the legacy of the legendary rock band, ‘The Who’.
Two of the band’s iconic members, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, frequented the Sulgrave Youth Club in their youth.
However, another notable figure to emerge from this scene was “Irish Jack”, the alias of Jack Lyons.
To ‘The Who’, he is simply Irish Jack, a nickname coined by Kit Lambert. To music historians, the retired postman from Cork is regarded as the unofficial fifth member of the band.
As an original Mod from the Who’s early base at the Goldhawk Social Club, Jack befriended Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle in 1962, well before the band became a global name. At the time, they were still performing under their original name, ‘The Detours’.
Pete Townshend has frequently credited Irish Jack as a crucial influence, mentioning him as a primary inspiration for the main character in the iconic Mod rock opera, ‘Quadrophenia’.
Although Jack returned to Cork in 1968, he kept a place in the band’s story, maintaining close ties and joining them on worldwide tours for many years.
As a storyteller, Jack has performed readings of his work in London and New York, always focusing on his youth in 1960’s London and his passion for ‘The Who’.
After reading an online article written by Jack, I contacted Steve Russell, who became instrumental in putting us in touch.
Since then, Irish Jack has been incredibly generous with his time and effort, even acting as a liaison between myself, Pete and Roger.
It is entirely thanks to Jack’s kindness that the Sulgrave Youth Club project has secured Pete’s personal recollections, alongside wonderful archival photos of the band.
Below is the email recollection provided by Irish Jack regarding his time at the Sulgrave Club.
“Way back in the mid-nineties, while I was researching my book, ‘The Who Concert File’, I paid a visit to the Sulgrave Boys Club.
Wondering if my name and those of my two younger brothers were still in the old membership books, I met a lovely, helpful gentleman called Tony Dollar.
He scoured the building for me, but sadly there was no trace. Yet, I remember distinctly my Uncle John taking me across the little green to the club and registering me as a member with Eric Peed.
This would have been 1960/61; I was 17 and had just started as a postboy at the London Electricity Board at 154 Uxbridge Road.
We were at 22 Kelmscott. I never knew Pete or Roger at the club, and I didn’t meet them until June 1962.”
Cinzia D’Ambrosi