Lone Wolf Howling at the Moon Large Back Patch, in the world of biking, patches on vests and jackets are usually worn to show that the wearer belongs to a motorcycle club. Each club has its own patch and wearing this helps other members to recognize each other and makes a statement to the general public. Bikers are proud of their clubs and wear their patches with pride. But not all bikers want to be associated with clubs and they wear a patch such as the lone wolf patch to show this.
The whole idea of MC clubs and their unique insignia grew up in the 1950s as a form of rebellion against authority and a rejection of the monopoly control of the American Motorcyclist Association. Because these new clubs were not recognized by the AMA and because the media regularly portrayed biker communities as lawless, these clubs and their members became known as outlaws. Why they drew so much adverse media attention can be traced back to an incident in Hollister, California in 1947, when approximately 500 lone or 'rebel' bikers (i.e. not affiliated to the AMA) disrupted an AMA sponsored rally by drinking beer and racing rowdily around the streets. Angry local citizens, outnumbering the tiny police force of the area, took the law into their own hands. In retaliation to their vigilante behavior, the bikers banded together and ran amok. From then on they were labeled as social pariahs, or outlaws.
In biker terminology, the lone wolf patch represents someone who embraces the biker lifestyle, but chooses not to ride with any club. He could share all the same values as outlaw gang members, but still prefer to retain the freedom to make his own decisions rather than abiding by specific club rules. Someone who wears a lone wolf patch is a true free spirit and this is the statement his patch makes to the world. The symbolism of the lone wolf rider is so powerful that it was taken up by the highly popular Grand Theft Auto video game last year.
It was almost inevitable that lone rider clubs would spring up and there are many now with their own patches, including silent skulls, full moon, and the lone wolf patch. These grew out of a real need for bikers to show their solidarity to other like-minded individuals while at the same time proclaiming their free-spiritedness. Such clubs rarely charge membership fees or insist on members attending meetings. They simply hold get togethers or annual rallies where free-spirited bikers can come together if and when they please.
The lone wolf biker patches comes in a range of styles, perhaps the most striking being the three piece design (typical of outlaw patches), with the crescent shaped 'rocker' above and below the dramatic depiction of a wolf's head, in which the teeth are visible. These usually have 'Lone Wolf' on the top rocker, with either 'Free Spirit' or 'No Club' on the lower rocker. Other versions of the lone wolf patch show the wolf's head full on. This is effective as the piercing red eyes, the nose, and especially the fangs, stand out in relief against the white muzzle, surrounded by the darker areas of the head, ears and neck. Another effective and immediately recognizable design is the silhouette of a white wolf standing on the edge of a cliff or rock and baying at the moon.
Occasionally you can find a lone wolf patch which simply states the words 'lone wolf' and these may incorporate other colors instead of the usual black, white and red. The wording is simple and easy to read, even if the message is not as powerful as those patches reinforced with visual images.
Whether you are a lone wolf, no club biker or part of a regular community, your patch is your identity and tells the rest of the world who you are. It is not just a meaningless decoration, but something that represents ownership of responsibility and the integrity of the biker.
