Big numbers of Hells Angels at Sturgis

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  • More than in past years, as far as I can tell by shooting photos on Main Street
  • Police accomodate with occasional blocking off of traffic at intersections so large group of Hells Angels can quickly ride through.
  • Some business activity in the past, with selling of biker merchandise and paraphenalia.
  • People always take an interest in the mystique of this.

7000 at Funeral

Hells Angels icon a part of California culture

Hells Angels early days

A life from the early days in the Bay Area, to world-wide fame and notoriety.

Barger died from cancer after a long life on the road, on motorcycles, and also in court rooms and jails.

A lot of jail-time

I read one of his books and besides the descriptions of biker life and mentality, I was also struck with the amount of his life taken up in later years by being arrested, jailed, dealing with lawyers, paying lawyers and generally being absorbed in a lifestyle few of would ever chose.

Sonny Barger book

Book at amazon

Recent Sonny Barger News Stories

Or, take look below:

Hells Angels open road

Hells Angels Bike Line at bar

Hells Angels headquarters, Oakland

Sonny Barger, 1938-1922

Iconic Leader of Hells Angels in California

One of the first presidents of Hells Angels dies of liver cancer. He gained fame in movies, books and ultimately in the criminal court system with his leadership in the Hells Angels.

Sonny Barger, Hells Angels

Barger gained fame through many avenues, including now-famous books that featured some of his exploits and life. These include:

"Hells Angels," by Hunter S. Thompson. The book launched Thompson's most famous period of work.

Hells Angels, by Hunter S. Thompson


Wild drug laced parties and California counter-culture galore in this one, by Tom Wolf The Electric Acid Kook-Aid Test, by Tom Wolfe

Top photo - "Oakland chapter Hell's Angel PREZ Ralph ' Sonny' Barger and taken care of business crowd" by ATOMIC Hot Links is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.