NCJ Number
147300
Date Published
1967
Length
348 pages
Annotation
The author, a freelance writer, describes his experiences and perceptions of the California Hell's Angels motorcycle gang, based on just over a year of association with them.
Abstract
The lifestyle portrayed is that of a group of malcontents with little use for occupational orientations. Their bond is a common love of the Harley-Davidson motorcyle (stripped down), group rides down highways, parties where beer and drugs suppress rationality, and a delight in shocking the "squares" who are so concerned with proper behavior. During the author's period of association with the California Hell's Angels in the mid-1960's, he did not see any evidence of systematic drug trafficking, only drug use by individual gang members. The gang's orientation was not toward making money through organized criminal behavior, but rather toward "partying." The bulk of the book profiles individual and group behavior at the Angels' Labor Day and July 4th parties. He describes incidents of gang sex with apparently willing women. Gang political characteristics included a fierce anticommunism, support for the Vietnam War, and a fascistic aggression toward those with different views. Law violations by gang members most often involved traffic tickets, disturbing the peace, and disorderly conduct. There was a charge of rape against four gang members, but they were acquitted. The author discusses how the media image of the Angels differed from their actual characteristics.