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It all began in the United States, just after W.W.2.. With thousands of returning veterans. A small amount of them moved by the post war boredom, they were unable to adjust to cilivan life, and just wanted to gain back some adventure and excitement. The way they found it was takeing to the open road , roaming highways on high powerd motorcycles ( Harley Davdison & Indian). In a sense they found freedom to escape the pain and horrors of war. They were liveing a outlaw adventure. Bikers in the beginning were associated with the fact they had little regard for the law, also they had drunken brawls and noisy take offs, then with any real criminal activity... They comperd themselfs to todays desperadoes..Unforunatley, a movie starring Marlon Brando titled the "Wild Ones" is based on a true story that happened in Hollister, Califorina, on July 4th 1947. And since then things drastically changed. On that day Hollister was holding an annual motorcycle dirt hill climb race, And the A.M.A was sponsering a Gypsy tour through CA. There was any where bettween two and four thousand bikers there. The street was trashed with beer bottles. And fights had also broke out, as well as drag races went through the streets. Two were arrested and jailed. This sparked a riot as a way to liberate themselfs.. As if things couldnt get any worse later that year thousands of motorcyclist attended a run in Riverdale, CA. that ultimaltey ended in rioting, destruction, and if that wasnt bad enough, even two death.. The term OMG originated after thousands of bikers caused a major riot in the community of Riverside in 1948. Riverside police cheif blamed the voilence on visting outlaws.. But the term outlaw is used to describe the phiosophical aspect of there way of life, there values,and there principles. Not as a derogatory trem to imply criminal alliance.. A few years later the term 1%er was coined. The president of the A.M.A pissed by all motorcyclist were being precived as haveing no regard for the law he declared that only one percent of the US mototcyclist were functioning out side of the sprit and the law.. (hence the trem 1%er was born) The trem became synonymous of OMGs, and on the other hand it became a cause of pride as we see today worn as a patch this denotes there membership in the OMG subculture. The 60's became the formative years for gangs.. But at that time OMGs were still just a big headache for Law Enforcement agencies. How ever even if they were capable of real crimanal activitys, they just lacked a real focus to this type of activity... They became a symbol to a younger generation that just wanted lawless good time.. Movies also played a big part in the growing motorcycle gangs phenomenon. With films such as "Angel's on Wheels", "Easy Rider," and "Angel's die hard" starring actor Peter Fonda. In Hell's Angels 69 the actors were members of the Oakland, CA. Chapter. The documentary Hell's Angels Forever is patterned after OMG motto AFFA(Angels Forever, Forever Angels).. As we move in to the 70s & 80s The OMGs took on some major changes. In the 70s OMGs got involved as many others did the takeing and selling of drugs. They had been drawn into this subculture. It also incressed the violent nature in the bussiness. The 80's were the years of expansion, and sophistication for many OMGs. Many members took on meaningful roles in there criminal operation. Some major groups empolyed members of smaller gangs hangaround or independent operators to do the criminal activity. With the idea by doing this they were able to protect themselfs from prosecution..... The Hell's Angels in March of 98 in there birth place celerabted there 50th anniversary. Under the authority of Sonny Barger. About 1000 full patch members from all over the world attened. The Hell's Angels are estimated around 2000 members, distributed in 122 chapters located in 20 countries. 13 are European plus Greek-(The Road Hunter) and even Russian Prospect Clubs. They are also active in New Zeland, Australia,South Africa, and Brazil. The richest chapter is supposed the one of British columbia.. George Christie who might be Barger's successor at the head of organisation said" the public had nothing to fear from the Hell's Angels, that his club which is larger is simply a motorcycle brotherhood. The Hell's Angels have a very entreprenurial attitude, they are also incorporated.. There infumus logo is a registerd trademark.. They manage a network of legal companies who sell their products such as shirts, jackets, to just name a few via the internet.. As Sonny Barger once stated they are just a bunch of guys trying to get along in the world, also the Police call us a gang,,,, we call it a club.. My point of view, despite the bad rap they have been given by some, not all are bad through some of the ones I have met they would give the shrit off there back... To me the Hell's Angels stand for freedom, unity, and most of all brotherhood!!!! I hope the colors never fade, live long and free!!!!!!! |
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