The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club had its start in Fontana, California in 1948. The military surplus after World War II made motorcycles very affordable for the veterans that were used to action in the field and wanted more of it along with a club that included drinking and cursing bikers. The name of Hells Angels is from World War I and World War II fighter pilots.
Hells Angels Founded by War Vet
Otto Friedli, a war veteran, started the club after he broke off from the Pissed Off Bastards motorcycle club. For many years, The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club remained an organization only in California. The first chapter outside of California was in Auckland, New Zealand in 1961. The club grew by leaps and bounds to include most of the states and 30 or more other countries with members having an image of outlaws that made their own rules as they went along in life. The club states that a member typically rides about 20,000 miles per year and usually only on the preferred motorcycle of the gang, the Harley-Davidson, so that they are easily identifiable.
The Reputation of Hells Angels
A banner on the bottom of the Hells Angels website says, "When we do right nobody remembers, when we do wrong nobody forgets." This is in line with the members that call themselves "one percenters" meaning that 1% of the troublemakers in bike gangs give a bad name to 99% of good members.
One of the most infamous encounters was when the Hells Angels were allegedly planning to kill Mick Jagger after they provided security at a riot at California's Altamont Speedway and a biker member stabbed a man to death in the commotion after a spectator pulled out a gun. Mick Jagger criticized the club for these actions. The court ruled that this was a case of self-defense.
Hells Angels Overseas
Overseas in the 1990's there was a turf war including the Angels in Scandinavia that lasted many years. It was reported that there were uses of machine guns, grenades and rocket launchers that cost about a dozen lives.
Many crimes were reported to be committed by Hells Angels and no charges were immediately filed by police forces. An officer reportedly said, "You don't poke a hornet's nest with a stick, but you sure do like to know where the hornets' nest is at."
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