The story began on March 17, 1948, in San Bernardino,
California, and the name is most-commonly attributed to the Howard Hughes movie
of the same name, about World War II bombers. But that is where the military
connection ends.
The Hells Angels website refutes the commonly held story
that the group was founded by ex-military misfits and outcasts. Of course,
later on, members from various branches of the military would join HAMC but it
was not a military club to begin with.
The group's logo, the Death Head, is easily one of the most
recognizable brands of the 20th century. It's since been copyrighted in the
United States and internationally.
The "Berdoo" chapter is still alive and well to
this day. That group's 70th anniversary party is scheduled
for this weekend. There are no chapters listed in Texas.
More clubs began popping up soon after in and around California.
In 1957 Sonny Barger founded the Oakland chapter. He would end up becoming the
face of the club in pop-culture, and to this day remains a cult figure.
Barger's autobiography, "Hell's Angel," was
released in 2001 to wide acclaim by motorcycle fans and others interested in
the biker subculture.
By 1961 the club had a chapter in Auckland, New Zealand, and
by the end of the decade the first of many chapters was founded in Europe.
Australia, Africa and Brazil were still to come. Today there are even clubs in
Turkey.
Nomad Dave shows off his Hells Angels tattoo as he attends a Hells Angels rally.
In 1965 LIFE magazine went on the road with the outlaw bikers for a series of photos featuring the group riding and interacting
with polite society. Two years later Hunter S. Thompson wrote the non-fiction book "Hell's Angels" about his time riding with the club.
They maintain an allure within mainstream culture, with TV
shows like "Sons of Anarchy" adding to the mystique. Barger himself
appeared on the show a handful of times. The motorcycle club in the TV show is
purely fictional, although it does have some elements of the biker culture.
Deadly encounters between the Angels and other clubs have
kept them squarely outside the lines, and the actions of bad apples among them
haven't helped matters.
Article by: Craig Hlavaty
SOURCE: Houston Chronicle