what are the hells angels?

Question

i was wanderin with all this going on with gerry tobin what exactly are the hells angels,what does it mean and how did they get together and be called hells amgels?
What do you think of them?

Answer 1

Formed in 1948 in Fontana, California, the name "Hells Angels" was inspired by the name of the U.S. Air Force 303rd Bombardment Groups in the early years of World War II.

The Hells Angels make strenuous attempts to dispel the myth that there is any connection, other than the name, between the HAMC and the historic military Hell's Angel. The HAMC website clarifies that the name was suggested to the founders of the club by a friend of theirs, Arvid Olsen, who was a member of the Flying Tigers squadron from the 303rd Group.

Ralph 'Sonny' Barger wrote a comprehensive account of the early history of the club, in his autobiography, Hell's Angels: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. He had spent over a decade in Arizona writing biker-related fiction. According to Barger's memoir, early chapters of the club were founded in San Francisco, Gardena, Fontana, and other places, independently of one another, with the members usually being unaware that there were other Hells Angels clubs. Another notable early work on the Angels was by Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. In his 1966 book entitled Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, which was expanded from an original 1965 article for The Nation, he spent a year in close quarters with group.

There appear to be accounts contradicting Sonny's memoirs, stating that the Hells Angels in San Francisco were originally organized in 1953 by Rocky Graves who was a Hells Angel member from San Bernardino ("Berdoo"). So the "Frisco" Hells Angels were very much aware of their forebears. The "Frisco" Hells Angels were reorganized in 1955 with thirteen charter members; Frank Sadilek served as President. The first Oakland group, ca. 1956, before Sonny was involved, had the name "Green Tanks" as the lower rocker jacket patch. Green Tanks is a section of Oakland.


Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The history of the Hells Angels is (allegedly)well documented in a number of books including those by Sonny Barger ( a well known American Angel) Hunter S.Thompson and Yves Lavigne. It has also been well condensed in other answers you have received

Motorcycle clubs can be many things from Harley Owners or Suzuki owners clubs, motorcycle rights clubs such as MAG(Motorcycle Action Group) to social clubs where friends in an area choose to ride and meet together(many of these are called MCC clubs). then you have what are known as backpatch clubs. Tthe term one percenters is often used for these clubs. After the famous brawl in Hollister the American Motorcyle Association issued a statement that said "that 99% of all bikers were law abiding citizens and the one percent that werent were nothing more than outlaws". that statement has become a cornerstone of biker culture and part of the urban myth that portrays "Hells Angels"

The Hells Angels are not the only back patch club although they are probably the most well known.

I have been involved in the "biker world" for many years in the UK. the myths that surround the HA infuriate me. No you do not have to bite the head off a chicken, rape a young girl or elderly lady, take drugs or even have a propensity for violence to become a Hells Angel. What you do have to have is a committment to your club, integrity, a work ethic(cos boy do you work hard as a prospect) and a personal sense of honour. Oh yes and you dont have to have tattoos either!

There is a brilliant photo book by Andrew Shaylor "Hells Angels Motorcycle Club" which covers exclusively the UK. It has some mean moody photos of individual members as well as family and everyday shots. Ask your local library to order it in..

Oh yes and they dont require their women to as slutty as possible. Its not obligatory to wear a mini skirt or get your kit off to loud music. Im a damn sight safer at a bike club or rally than I would be in a city centre pub.

If you walk into your local golfclub you will find a range of people in there, could be bankers, butchers, mechanics, drug dealers or doctors. The same is true in the HA although you will probably find more mechanics and tattoists!

It suits the press to propagate the urban myths that surround the HA and having read the papers recently I have been both amused and disgusted by some of the baloney that has been printed. One headline regarded two British Hells Angels being arrested on a multimillion pound fraud. Reading the article turns out it was a land fraud deal in Thailand and they werent HA members at all but were part of another bike club!

Please look at the following website http://www.hellsangelslondon.com
and see the moving tributes written to Gerry Tobin by people who knew and cared about him.

Answer 3

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is a world-wide motorcycle club traditionally riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, although Harley ownership is not a prerequisite for membership. In the United States, and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation.

Answer 4

Watch all the Simpsons programs - there is one that takes the cake re Hells Angels.

They were a Biker gang of the 60s in America that could be very undesirable.

Just do a web search Hells Angels Gags of the 60s. You will find all you need to know.

I don't think about them at all and wouldn't be bothered to do a search myself.

Answer 5

A Super Cool Biker Gang

Answer 6

The Hell's Angels was a WWII B - 17 bomber which flew a number of missions and was famous for flying numerous combat missions. there is a book about this famous bomber which is extremely interesting to read if you are interested in more details.

Answer 7

Hells angles was formed from vets who found the same brotherhood in the club that they had in the forces. chapters have opened all over the world. As to what I think of them, well they threw a good hoolie at the Kent each year. Other than that Each to his own.

Answer 8

It is a biker gang, because they raise hell probably, and just call themseeves that. I do not know the real story, sorry. I would also like to know. Some of them look and act like they came out of hell...

Answer 9

A group of men who go around riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and dressing in jackets with their emblem on the back and tight jeans.
Generally they like everyone to think that they are very rough and criminally inclined. They do have a history of criminal activity and drug use/sales. When they are in groups together they like their women to act rough too--the sluttier the better.
Anymore it's hard to tell if they are still deeply involved in crime or if they just like everyone to think they are in order to maintain their persona and "mystique".

Answer 10

^The only Hells Angels (1%ers) I know of are the motorcycle gang that started in California, and trust me you wouldn't want to cross them. Even other biker gangs fear them.