MOTORCYCLE GANGS

There are three major international motorcycle gangs in the world today - the Hells Angels, the Bandidos and the Outlaws. Their origins start at the end of World War Two when some ex-servicemen returning from the war found their civilian lives boring. Small numbers formed groups and headed to the highways on high-powered motorbikes in search of adventure and excitement.

Hollister 1947

The American Motorcycle Association (A.M.A) held motorcycle races in Hollister, California over the weekend of July 4th 1947. Some groups of motorcyclists who attended the event held drag races in the main street and caused violence and disorder. The local police were heavily outnumbered and a riot started when a group of bikers tried to make the police release one of their members who had been arrested. The weekend gained widespread publicity throughout the United States.

Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin starred in the 1953 movie "The Wild One" which was based on the Hollister Riot. (The movie helped to increase the notoriety of the Hells Angels).

HELLS ANGELS M.C

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) was formed on March 17th 1948 in San Bernardino in California. This chapter became known as “Berdo” and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008.

The second chapter of Hells Angels was formed in San Francisco in 1954 and the Oakland chapter was formed in 1957, lead by Ralph “Sonny” Barger. Under the leadership of Barger, the Hells Angels power-base shifted from Berdo to Oakland. Sonny Barger has been a Hells Angel for more than 50 years and is the Hells Angels unofficial figurehead.

A rare photo of the original Auckland Hells Angels before they gained their official charter. (1960)

The Auckland chapter was formed in 1960 by Pete Skinner, 'Pinky' Moran and an American named Jim Carrico, who was an associate of some Californian Hells Angels. 'Auckland' received its charter on July 1st 1961; becoming the first official chapter formed outside of the United States. It's the fourth oldest in the world today.

The Hells Angels currently have around 3000 - 3500 members in over 260 chapters worldwide. They have chapters in 32 countries and prospects or hangarounds in a further four.

The HAMC has chapters in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA and Wales. They have prospect clubs in Iceland and hangarounds in Japan, Lavtia and Lithuania.

The Hells Angels are the only "big three" club with chapters in NZ at present. They have two New Zealand chapters - Auckland and Wanganui.

The Wanganui chapter was formerly the Galgoffa MC, which was formed in 1975. They became Hells Angel prospects in August 1989 and gained their colours almost three years later on June 23rd 1992.

The Loners M.C from Hastings became Hells Angel prospects in 1997. They became patchmembers in June 2000, however, this chapter was closed down in April 2008.  Some Hastings members transferred to the Wanganui Chapter.

In March 2009 the Hells Angels established a Red Devils chapter in Nelson. The Hells Angels have shown strong interest in the Nelson area for many years and this is a clear sign that they intend to establish a chapter there in the future. The Red Devils are a puppet club for the Hells Angels and have chapters in Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Heregovina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey and the USA.

HELLS ANGELS TERMS INCLUDE...

81’s	Stands for H A, meaning Hells Angels.
184's	Stands for R D, meaning Red Devils.
1 6 6 1	Stands for A F F A.
A F F A	Angels Forever. Forever Angels.
A O M D	All Outlaws Must Die.
ANGELS	Hells Angel members.
BIG HOUSE CREW	Hells Angels who are in prison.
BIG RED MACHINE	This is another name for the Hells Angels. Support the Big Red Machine clothing is often worn by Hells Angel supporters.
H A's	Hells Angels.
L & R	Love and Respect. This is how Hells Angels often sign-off letters and other correspondence to each other.
RED AND WHITE	This is another name for the Hells Angels and comes from the colours on their patch.

FURTHER READING

There’s been many books written about the Hells Angels. The ones that I think are worth a read are...

• A Wayward Angel by George Wethern and Vincent Colnett.
• Angels of Death by Julian Sher and William Marsden.
• Bikers by Maz Harris.
• Buttons: The making of a President by Jamie Mandelkau.
• Hells Angel by Ralph Sonny Barger.
• Hells Angels by Per-Olof Sannas.
• Hells Angels by Hunter S Thompson.
• Hells Angels. Into the Abyss by Yves Lavigne.
• Hells Angels Motorcycle Club by Andrew Shaylor.
• No Angel by Jay Dobyns and Nils Johnson-Shelton.
• The Road to Hell by Julian Sher and William Marsden.

BANDIDOS M.C

The Bandidos were formed in Houston, Texas in 1966. They have chapters in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and the United States of America.

The Bandidos and the Outlaws generally get on well with each other and both are traditional rivals of the Hells Angels.

BANDIDOS TERMS INCLUDE...

BANDITS	Bandido members.
B F F B	Bandidos Forever. Forever Bandidos.
G F B D	God Forgives. Bandidos Don’t.
L L R	Love. Loyalty. Respect.
N F G	No Fu--ken Good.
P B O L	Proud Bandido Old Lady.

FURTHER READING

There haven’t been many books written about the Bandidos. Worth reading are...

OUTLAWS M.C

The Outlaws were formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1959. They currently have chapters in Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United States and Wales.

The Outlaws M.C is sometimes known as the A.O.A which stands for American Outlaw Association. Members commonly wear the A.O.A badge on the front of their vests.

The Outlaws M.C from Napier in New Zealand is not part of the international Outlaws gang.

OUTLAWS TERMS INCLUDE...

A D I O S	Angels Die In Outlaw States.
A H A M D	All Hells Angels Must Die.
CHARLIE	The skull and crossed pistons symbol in the centre of the Outlaws patch is known as Charlie and is based on the skull on the back of Marlon Brando's leather jacket in the movie The Wild One.
G B N F	Gone But Not Forgotten. This term relates to Outlaws who have died.
G F O D	God Forgives. Outlaws Don't.
O F F O	Outlaws Forever. Forever Outlaws.
O L's	Outlaws.
S Y L O	Support Your Local Outlaws.

FURTHER READING

Although there haven't been many books written about the Outlaws, the following books of photographs are well worth a look as they contain some classic photos.

BOOKS ON OTHER BIKE GANGS

MONGOLS M.C

PAGANS M.C

NEW ZEALAND MOTORCYCLE GANGS

For further information about New Zealand Motorcycle Gangs please refer to the Gang Clothing section.