The Hells Angels: The Truth Behind The Controversial Motorcycle Club
When most people mention the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, it's not usually met with positivity. The group is notorious for generating headlines that make it seem like they promote violence and criminal activity. That hasn't always been the case. The group started out in the 1940s as a simple motorcycle club that would connect veterans.
It evolved into a part of the 1960s counter-culture, and from there took on new meaning from news events and popular culture interpretations of the group. Here's the story of how the Hells Angels became the bike club you read about today.
Hells Angels' Humble Beginnings
The Hells Angels were founded on March 17, 1948, to create a sense of belonging for a group of individuals who longed for comradery after the war. Its founders included the Bishop family, as well as many other World War II veterans who had come from other biker clubs.
Its start wasn't initially for "criminal" or "gang" related activities, as some might be inclined to believe. In reality, a post-war boom of motorcycles made it easier to buy them, and post-war soldiers wanted a shared activity that would bring them together when they came home.
The Club Name Came From A Squadron That Fought In World War II
Many have been curious about the origins of the group, including the name "Hells Angels" itself. During World War II, many squadrons came up with fierce-sounding nicknames that would give its members a boost in morale during their missions. Arvid Olson, a friend of the Bishop family, served in the Flying Tigers "Hell's Angels" squadron during World War II in China.
It was at Olson's suggestion, the story goes, that the motorcycle group adopted the name Hells Angels. It wasn't anything nefarious or more controversial than that — simply the name of a squadron that fought in the Second Great War.
Slowly Becoming A More Unified Group
The Hells Angels' popularity spread across the state of California fairly quickly. Smaller clubs started popping up around San Francisco, Oakland, and Gardena, among many other places. These affiliates, however, didn't have much connection to one another — when a new club popped up, it didn't matter much to a club already opened somewhere else.
That changed in the 1950s, when a larger-scale operation of the Hells Angels was established. Instead of having a loose affiliation with each other, a stronger connection between separate branches of the organization was created, making the club a much more unified entity.
The Group Was Part Of The Counterculture Movement Of The 1960s
Beyond the 1940s and 1950s, the Hells Angels continued to evolve in the 1960s, becoming a mainstay of the counter-culture movement of that era. Their presence was especially felt in California, especially the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco.
The bike club made its presence known by being affiliated with many counter-culture musical acts as well. These included the Merry Pranksters, Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, Allen Ginsberg, and The Rolling Stones.
The Group Doesn't Like The Reputation They Have Received
The Hells Angels don't want to have the image of a biker group with a bad reputation. The organization frequently calls itself a "one-percenter" biker club. What does that mean, exactly? That means 1 person out of 99 can make an entire group look bad. In Hells Angels' case, a few bad incidents associated with the group has tainted public perception of the organization.
It's difficult to shake off those ideas because there do seem to be a number of "bad apples" within the group that have done some rotten things.
Hell Angels Goes Beyond The U.S.
The organization began in the 1940s as an American-based group, and spread to places around California not long after. But as the popularity of the group intensified, more charters were being requested and granted elsewhere in the country — and beyond.
In 1961, the first international charter was approved for a Hells Angels group in Auckland, New Zealand. It didn't take long for word to spread to other countries, too, and soon there were charters in London. Presently, there are 275 charters across Europe, and the group has spread to several other continents as well, including South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
You Can't Miss Them
If you've never seen a Hells Angels member in person, it's not for lack of trying on the part of the individuals involved in the club — they make sure that they're well seen, based on the attire they put on.
Members, when they're riding, are almost always wearing a "cut" (a denim or leather motorcycle vest), on which are sewn several patches alluding the organization's name. A full member will have a red-and-white winged "death head" logo, as well as the number '81' included somewhere on their attire. The 81 symbolizes the 8th letter of the alphabet (H) and the first letter (A) — the initials of Hells Angels.
How To Become A Hells Angel
Members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have to go through a rigorous process in order to be included in the organization. For many, this is a years-long process and is meant to keep individuals out of the organization who may not adhere to the general attitudes and principles of other members.
Every member must have a valid license for operating a motorcycle. Each must also have a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with over 750 CC. Members cannot have been charged with child molestation in their past. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hells Angels recruits cannot have ever applied to have been a police officer or prison guard prior to joining.
The Next Step: The Hang-Around
The process of becoming a member doesn't stop there, however — recruits have to be deemed worthy of being eligible for full membership by being an active part of it. Such members receive "hang-around" status, which requires them to come to some club meetings or meet other members outside of the official business.
The "hang-around" status is dual-serving, as it allows the local club the chance to meet the potential recruit, as well as let that person know what life is like for those who join the Hells Angels. It could turn out that the person trying to join might not want to do so after hanging around the group for a bit.
How To Become A "Prospect" Member
Hang-arounds are given the opportunity to become associate members of the group, after a given amount of time learning about the club. While an associate, they spend a few years attending events in a more official manner, proving they are worthy of making it up to the next level of membership: the prospect.
Prospects are given some additional privileges, including being able to attend closed meetings of their local Hells Angels club. But while they're allowed in, they still don't receive the right to vote on official club business. While a prospect, other members begin to carefully consider whether they want the individual to become a full-fledged member. Prospects are allowed to wear additional patches that associates and hang-arounds aren't.
Becoming 'Fully Patched'
The last step to becoming a full-fledged member of any charter involves an initiation called "being patched." This means that a person has gone through all the steps of becoming a member, and received all the patches associated with obtaining that status.
The final step is a difficult one. After typically going to neighboring charters and introducing one's self, a prospect must be voted in by a unanimous vote of the charter they're applying to be a part of. A single 'no' vote could stop it, so it's important that they've gained the trust and liking of every member who is set to vote on their initiation. Once they get that unanimous vote, a ceremony is held where the applicant gets their full set of patches.
Other More Controversial Patches One Can Get...
There are a few controversial patches that can be allegedly earned after being fully patched. According to author Tony Thompson, who discussed the issue in his book Gangs, a Nazi-style "SS" lightning bolt patch is awarded to a select few members called the "Filthy Few" (the words are on the patch as well). This patch is believed by some in law enforcement to signify members who would commit murder on behalf of the group if asked.
Another controversial patch is the "Dequiallo" patch. This one is awarded to members who have supposedly used violence against officers while being placed under arrest by law enforcement. Other secretive patches supposedly exist as well.
Hunter S. Thompson Spent A Year With The Hells Angels
Famously, "Gonzo" journalist Hunter S. Thompson spent a year with a Hells Angels charter group, living among them, riding a motorcycle, and getting a deeper understanding of what being a member was like. His embedded journalism was detailed in his renowned book, Hells Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
Unfortunately for Thompson, the club and he saw differences with each other when he criticized a member for beating his wife. The members of his charter ended up "stomping" him for the comment. Later, the organization also accused Thompson of exploiting their friendship with him and using it for profits for his book, which they demanded to get compensated for. Thompson did not fork over a dime.
Altamont Concert Turns Violent
At a concert event at Altamont Speedway in 1969, there was a horrific event that has continued to haunt the Hells Angels to this day. The organization was hired to provide security at the event, which featured bands like the Rolling Stones. During the concert, a man named Merideth Hunter allegedly pulled out a gun, and Hells Angels staff quickly subdued him, including a member who was named Passaro.
But Passaro didn't stop there. He stabbed Hunter several times while he was on the ground and killing him. Passaro was later acquitted of murder charges, as it was believed by the jury he acted in self-defense. Still, many believe to this day that the group was responsible for the homicide.
Charges Of Racism
Officially, the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has no stipulations enforcing segregation or promoting one race over another of any kind but in practice, others might disagree. While it isn't proven, it's still debated to this day.
Sonny Barger, who was the founding member of the Oakland charter, once broached the subject when he said: "The club, as a whole, is not racist, but there are probably enough racist members that no black guy is going to get it."
Intra-Organization Violence Between Charters
The violent history of the Hells Angels continued on into the 1980s. This time, it was an intra-organization squabble, known as the Lennoxville Massacre, that led to a violent outcome.
Five members of the Hells Angels North Laval Quebec charter were invited by the Montreal and Nova Scotia charters to an event in the Lennoxville clubhouse. Those five members were beaten up and shot, and their bodies were thrown into the St. Lawrence River, with all five killed as a result. Many of those involved ended up being convicted and sentenced to life, but eventually all who were ended up being released early.
Some Wanted To 'Off' Jagger
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has survived a lot over the years — booze, drugs, girlfriends, and more. But he also survived a botched assassination attempt by the Hells Angels.
After Altamont, Jagger was so upset with the security "services" the Hells Angels provided that he was determined never to work with them again. Because of the embarrassment such comments brought on, some in the group wanted to retaliate and planned to attack Jagger at his holiday home in the Hamptons in the 1970s. Fortunately, the plan ultimately failed, thanks to some natural circumstances that affected the group...
The Plan Involved A Boat
The members involved in the plot apparently did some deep thinking about how they were going to get Jagger, but they didn't think enough to look at the weather report, it appears. The plan: they were going to avoid being detected by security by coming in from the seaside, by boat, to enter Jagger's property in his garden.
Now, it goes without saying that the Hells Angels are a motorcycle group, and most members probably don't have a yacht membership. Some probably are adept at sailing boats in the sea, but if any are, it doesn't appear they were a part of this group's failed assassination attempt.
Cloudy, With A Chance Of Failure
Luckily for Mick Jagger and the rest of the world who enjoys his music, the plot by these Hells Angels members failed miserably. Apparently, the plan involving the boat wasn't necessarily a bad one — but the failure to take a quick glance at the newspaper's weather report was a mistake they could have avoided. A storm came to shore, and, suffice it to say, the men on the boat did not reach their intended target. In fact, all of them went overboard before reaching shore!
For those members of the Hells Angels, they learned the hard way: you can't always get what you want.
The FBI Discovered The Plot But They Were Too Late
Hunter S. Thompson wasn't the only person to infiltrate the Hells Angels in order to learn more about the organization. The FBI infiltrated the Hells Angels, to find out to what extent the group was involved in plots against the government or simple criminal activities.
While most Hells Angels chapters were not involved in such plots, the FBI happened to plant one of their own agents in the same chapter where the assassination attempt had been planned, even though it had already failed.
The FBI Responds
The discovery was something the FBI was very interested in, even if they caught it after the fact. It proved to them, in their minds, that the Hells Angels, or at least several chapters of the group, were involved in some very fishy operations. If they were going after Mick Jagger over his comments after Altamont, then surely they were capable of doing other things as well.
So obviously the FBI went in, arrested the individuals involved, and shuttered down that chapter, right? Well...not exactly.
What Did The FBI Do?
The FBI found out about the murder plot and then...did nothing. "Because no actual crime had been committed, there was nothing that the FBI could do," says journalist Tom Mangold.
Even after discovering the plot, it would have been a very hard case to prosecute. There wasn't a murder — there wasn't even an attempt at murder. The charter members involved in the plot simply gave up trying, and that's precisely what the FBI did once it got this information. What's even more bizarre is that Mick Jagger himself wasn't made aware of the plot until years later!
Sons of Anarchy Stars Some Real-Life Angels
Sons of Anarchy is a television series, created by Kurt Sutter, that depicts a group of motorcycle riders who form a club together and get into trouble. Sound familiar? The show was loosely based on the Hells Angels, and even drew some of its storylines from real-life events that happened.
If the show appears to be true-to-life, you can thank some of the cast members — some of which were former Hells Angels members themselves, including Sonny Barger, David Labrava, Chuck Zito, Rusty Coones. Labrava, who played the character "Happy" throughout the series' run.
Sonny Barger
Every Hells Angels charter is self-governed with their own president and set of rules. Still, if there had to be a face to the group as a whole, you couldn't go wrong with Sonny Barger, who is the president and original founding member of the Oakland charter.
Barger has the longest-runing members out of everyone in the Hells Angels club, and at 81-years of age, has managed to get into relatively little trouble as compared to other members — relatively being the key word, as he has served four years in prison for attempting to blow up a rival gang's operations in 1988. Other than that, Barger has had a relatively clean background, at least on paper. His experiences with the Hells Angels has landed him many television and movie roles, and has allowed him to publish several successful books about his time with the organization.
Maurice "Mom" Boucher
Maurice "Mom" Boucher is the antithesis of Sonny Barger. While Barger managed to have a stellar reputation in the group while still staying out of trouble (mostly), Boucher is notorious for engaging in a series of violent actions, while president of the Montreal Charter during that group's involvement in the eight-year-long Quebec Biker War.
Boucher is presently serving three life sentences for murder and drug trafficking. Before joining Hells Angels, he was also a noted white supremacist. He was also the person who was in charge during the Lennoxville Massacre, which saw five rival members of Hells Angels (from another charter) killed in total.
Don't Mess With Hells Angels (In The Courts)
The Hells Angels have a reputation for being a rough group you don't want to mess with. In recent years, that take-no-bull attitude has translated into the legal world as well. That's right — Hells Angels has been involved in several litigations, in attempts to protect its own image against misuse by other parties.
In 2007, for instance, the group sued Disney for using their logos without permission for the motorcycle-inspired movie "Wild Hogs." The Hells Angels also sued Alexander McQueen for the misuse of their logos and other images associated with the group. They've even gone after kids' toys, suing Toys "R" Us in 2012 for selling a yo-yo with the "Death Head" logo imprinted on it.
George Christie
George Christie was the Hells Angels president for its Ventura, California, chapter. Although one of the longest-serving charter presidents in the history of the organization, Christie left in 2001 under suspicious terms — it was believed that he had been cooperating with police, which irked many members.
He found himself on the other side of the law in 2013, however, when he was sentenced to a year in prison for being associated with a firebombing at a tattoo shop. Later, Christie, like some other members of Hells Angels, would find work on television — consulting with the History Channel show Outlaw Chronicles.
Rejected From The Ventura County Fair
George Christie wasn't allowed to enter the Ventura County Fair in 2003 — the second year in a row that he was denied access to the fairgrounds during the event. The reason he wasn't allowed? The fair was denying entrance to any individual wearing gang attire and gang-related tattoos, which the Ventura County Fair deemed Hells Angels fit the bill.
Christie felt that his constitutional rights had been violated. "This is not something I take lightly or something I just do on weekends. I'm a Hells Angel 24 hours a day. I've dedicated my life to it, and I equate that to religion," he said at the time.
Fair Officials Say Hells Angels Can Enter...On One Condition...
County officials and fair administrators relented that the members of Hells Angels could attend the event — but they wanted one condition to be met. The group could enter the fairgrounds, but couldn't wear their attire or display their patches to the fair.
For Christie and the rest of the group, that wasn't good enough. They called the policy an act of discrimination, claiming they weren't a gang and were law-abiding individuals who wanted to attend the event. They even cited a court case from 2002 in which a judge ruled that Hells Angels couldn't rightly be called a gang.
Christie Attended The Fair — With His Family
Christie decided he had had enough — and decided he and his family would be going to the fair, in spite of their restrictions. To ensure that his actions wouldn't be a surprise, he even alerted Ventura County officials of his plans to attend.
He rejected the belief that his association with the Hells Angels was inherently bad. "It's the contention of the Ventura police that there is going to be some sort of spontaneous problem, some type of violence. I don't agree with that and tried to show them by going as far as taking just my family," Christie explained.
Otto Friedli - A Hells Angels Founder And President
Otto Friedli was another important member of the Hells Angels when it was first formed. Originally a member of the Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington motorcycle club, Friedli left that organization and helped to found the original Hells Angels in Fontana, California. He served as chapter president in nearby San Bernardino, then later served as the organization's national president.
He went to prison, which cut his tenure in president short. Sonny Barger took over presidential duties while Friedli was behind bars, and when he was released, Friedli left Hells Angels on amicable terms, opting instead to join the Black Sheep Motorcycle Ministry. He passed away in 2008.
Terry The Tramp - Oakland, California
Terry the Tramp is another member who is often talked about by those who are in the Hells Angels. He's often touted as an example of what a member should be like. He was a member from the Oakland, California, charter, and has been featured in films such as Hells Angels 69.
He was also discussed extensively in Hunter S. Thompson's book about the organization, Hells Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Terry didn't live as long as some of his fellow Hells Angels members — he passed away at age 30 in 1970, just two years past the 20-year birthday of the Hells Angels' founding.
Yves "Apache" Trudeau - Informant And Murderer?
Yves Trudeau, who went by the nickname "The Mad Bumper," was a part of the Hells Angels North Chapter in Laval, Quebec. Trudeau was addicted to cocaine, which led to him being paranoid about his fellow biker buddies. He flipped on his friends and became an informant to the police. He ratted out several members of his chapter, detailing the crimes they were engaged in. He also admitted to his own run of murders over the years.
In 1985, as part of his informant plea deal, Trudeau pleaded guilty to 43 counts of manslaughter He was sentenced to life in prison, but was paroled out in 1994. He died of cancer in 2008.
A Heated Rivalry With The Rock Machine
The Packers and the Bears. The Yankees and the Red Sox. Rivalries are just a natural part of life — and with the Hells Angels, it's no different. The motorcycle club had a notorious rivalrly with The Rock Machine, another club, from 1986 to 2002.
Though smaller than the Hells Angels — there are about six chapters in the U.S., six in Canada, and two in Australia — it was allegedly a big enough thorn in the side of the Hells Angels to warrant a motorcycle club turf war, especially in Quebec. The two biker clubs reportedly fought with one another, sometimes directly sometimes not, over who had ownership over drug distribution in the Canadian province.
More On Hunter S. Thompson
As mentioned earlier, Hunter S. Thomspon wrote a book about the Hells Angels. That book was lauded for giving audiences an in-depth look at the group in a way few outsiders were privy to before. Published in 1966, the book did have a few critics, however — including the Hells Angels themselves, who didn't think that it accurately portrayed who they were. Some believed it made them look dumb.
"Unfortunately, the Angels were depicted as emotionally and intellectually void in the book," TheRichest reported, and "a feud between the famed author and the club ensued. They were less than pleased that he spoke so badly of them after they had allowed him to spend time with their club to research the book."
The Women Of Hells Angels
Many women ride with members of the Hells Angels, attracted to the motorcycle and outlaw lifestyle that the group espouses. Some even have their own patches made unofficially that read "Support Your Local 81" on them.
Many people might presume that these women are only girlfriends of the riders, but that's a misnomer — just as is the case with any other group or social gathering that people sign up to belong with, sometimes these relationships go deeper, and become lifelong. Indeed, many of the Hells Angels members ride with their wives joining them.
It's A Dangerous Lifestyle For Couples
Although there isn't much room officially for women within the Hells Angels, it doesn't mean those who ride with them aren't dedicated. They're a big part of the club community, although you'll be hard-pressed to find a woman riding a motorcycle solo in such a group.
There are some occasions, however, when difficulties arise with members who bring their girlfriends or wives along to ride with them — as members are typically rough and tumble types, breakups tend to spill over into the social dynamic, which is noticeable for other members to see coming, sometimes from miles away.
Hells Angels Rides Often Benefit Good Causes
The Hells Angels put together events that sometimes worry locals and their police forces, but which, for the most part, aren't anything to worry over (except for, perhaps, the added noise their engines produce. Some are memorial rides for veterans or former members (remember, the Hells Angels started out as a vets group).
A popular event for many charters, in fact, is the Toy Run, which benefits children who come from families with limited means. While we tend to focus on the problems associated with some Hells Angels members in the past, it's nice to hear about these types of charitable acts that many more members take part in.
Hells Angels' Clubhouses
The history and examples of Hells Angels being on the wrong side of the law are well-known to law enforcement. It's important for many police departments, in their view, to know where Hells Angels meeting places, such as their favorite bars or clubhouses, might be. To ensure they "keep an eye" on local charters, some police forces will regularly surveil clubhouses of the Hells Angels riders.
The clubhouse pictured above is one that existed in Toronto, Canada before the government forced the club out of its "digs" due to frequent problems. The government, in turn, sold the clubhouse, using the proceeds to help support funding a crime bill.
Police Raid In Cologne, Germany
In May of 2017, a German chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was raided by police officers in Cologne, Germany. Police involved in the raid took the situation very seriously — the chapter had been involved in gang violence between a rival group called the Bandidos, and crime was escalating in their neighborhoods.
To address the potential for a violent outcome, 100 law enforcement officers took part in the raid, bring along with them a battering ram, an iron cage, and armored vehicles. Police seized several unlawful weapons from the raid, and arrested 12 members of the motorcycle club.
