Hells Angels
One of the most famous biker groups in the world is the Hells Angels. There were founded in 1948 in California. There are hundreds of charters across multiple countries around the world.
Some may think they're just unlawful but there's actually a code that the bikers stick to. The code dictates what they wear to how they act and drive. If they don't follow these rules they can't stay in the club.
Get In Through Vote
Becoming a member isn't simple. It can take years and you can never ask to get in. It clearly states that you wouldn't understand the answer if you have to ask on their website.
The process is so thorough because once you get in it's a life commitment. The relationships you'll grow takes a lot of time and the only thing that can truly prove that you belong in the club is if members vote you in.
You're A Prospect First
Before you become a Hells Angel you become a "hang around" and as such you get to go to some of their events so the members can see if you're made of the right stuff for their club.
After they get a feel for you you become a "prospect" which gets written on your vest. You normally run errands for the group and they generally call it "gopher" work.
Their Vests Are A Big Deal
Hells Angels are easily distinguishable by the vests they wear. After the prospect gets initiated into the club, they get the vest with the sacred logo on it. The vests are a very important part of the club.
The lengths they go to to save the vests include handing one over to a member for safekeeping if one of them gets arrested and even making sure no paramedics cut the vest when they're in an accident.
Dress Code
Every charter has a slight variation on its rules, but the dress code is consistent throughout. Members are only allowed to black jeans, shirts, and their vests when they join.
Some of the charters even say no to shorts! Some other charters don't mind camo or blue pants either. Each charter may also have their own colors to distinguish them from another charter.
They Ride-In Formation
The bikers can drive in huge groups and it might surprise you that they actually have an order in which they drive. The road captain and president will stay as pack leaders.
Then the group will ride in order of importance and seniority. The newest members will always ride at the back of the group while the oldest veterans of the group will ride nearer to the front.
They Stop As A Group
The group will ride and stop as a unit. This means that if one member is pulled over then all of them stop. This keeps order and also shows their loyalty as a brotherhood.
The club will stick together and leave no man behind. Knowing this no one is likely to try anything with any of their members. And the club has the pedigree for being tough.
No Prison Duty
The club stipulates that no members can work for prisons. This makes sense with the history they have with the police. Members also can't be police officers because of the difference in interest.
People know the club has sometimes indulged in illegal activity. The group signifies freedom so jobs as guards or policemen aren't exactly the right choice for members.
Keeping Other Members Secret
The group's policy on sharing information about other members is strictly prohibited. The club doesn't want any members to be rats and share any information about a member with anyone outside the group.
All the secrecy is meant to protect members from people including law enforcement. They place loyalty above any other rule.
In For Life
Hells Angels members are committed to the group for life. The only way to leave the group is by being expelled. Even in death you're still considered a member.
The members of the charters often get very comfortable with one another and can even become like a family. So it's not surprising that when a brother passes the whole group will get together to honor them.
Sharing Info With The Media Is Prohibited
The Hells Angels are a secretive group and as such, they don't allow any member to talk to the media. The charter can then stay safe but also keeps reinforcing the rule about not talking about one another.
Members can't talk about their codes since it might jeopardize their security. No information can be leaked if there's a strict policy on information sharing.
Long-standing Association With Harley-Davidson
To be a Hells Angel, you don't just need to be any biker; you need to be a very specific type of motorcyclist. As we've mentioned, the recruitment process can take years because they only accept those that are like family.
One part of being the right kind of biker is owning a Harley Davidson. Riding Harleys is a Hells Angels tradition that runs along the same lines as the sacred vest. It holds value because its a part of what makes them who they are.
They Ride Thousands Of Miles A Year Together
According to their website, the Hells Angels ride around 20,000 kilometers together every year. That's more than 12,000 miles! Members need to be true motorcycle fanatics to fit in, meaning that their bike is their top mode of transportation.
While Hells Angels are like brothers, their connection is founded on their shared love of motorcycles. Riding is their outward expression of freedom and the closest they get to feeling completely liberated. As such, they'll happily spend hours on the road.
Show Up To Club Events
If you really take the Hells Angels way of life seriously, then the highlight of your day is attending one of their activities. Members who fail to show up to meetings and hangouts indicate to others that they are missing the point of the club.
The biker brotherhood is known for having a strict attendance code. Those who continually miss events are seen as disrespectful and are not likely to make it past the "hanging around" phase of recruitment.
Members Are Like Family
A part of what makes Hells Angels so drawn to gatherings is that the members become like family. Not only do they get to do what they love by riding bikes, but they also get to do it with other people who feel the exact same way.
Their passion runs much deeper than just excitement over motorcycles. Hells Angels is about a way of life, a belief system, that all of its members profoundly connect through.
Don't Join Another Biker Club
The Hells Angels have a deep bond that is meant to last a lifetime. With that connection comes commitment, meaning that members shouldn't even consider joining another biker club.
Likewise, members need to be careful about who they associate with. The website warns, "Never combine your support to Hells Angels with other clubs, street gangs, or others if you are unaware of the relationship between those others and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club." In other words, anything members choose to support has to fit in with the group as a whole.
It's A Brotherhood, Not A Sisterhood
Hells Angels refers to itself as a brotherhood; thus, you'll only see men with the death head insignias on their back. Though women aren't technically in the club, they do play a major role in it.
Many of the Hells Angels have wives and families. If he's going to be a part of the crew, then his partner has to understand the commitment and be okay with the lifestyle and all that comes with it.
Not Just Anyone Can Start A Charter
As with joining a charter, creating one doesn't just happen overnight. The Hells Angels website explains, "Motorcycle Clubs consist of people who have ridden together for years, live in the same area, are known by the community, have runs and parties, and are a brotherhood."
It takes years, even decades, to become that established. Only then would you consider morphing your group into a Hells Angels charter. That's why the website states that when you're ready to start a charter, you won't have to ask how.
You Don't Want To Break The Rules
Breaking the Hells Angels rules puts members in a position they'll strongly regret. Since the motor club is secretive and full of loyal participants, there's no telling what will be done to someone who betrays the brotherhood.
Investigator Julian Sher claims that the group has burned off the tattoos of past members who broke the rules. The worst form of punishment is being kicked out of the club, resulting in complete banishment from other members.
Don't Question The Missing Apostrophe
Grammar nerds will have already noticed that Hells Angels is missing an apostrophe. Since the angels belong to hell, there should be a possessive apostrophe between "Hell" and "s." The group is all about breaking the rules, so it's fitting they don't obey the grammar.
Their website simply states, "Yes, we know there is an apostrophe missing but it is you who miss it. We don't." Plus, there was already a 1930 war film called Hell's Angels when the biker club started.
Non-members Can Buy Merchandise To Support The Club
Though members despise people who aren't in the club wearing the Hells Angels insignia, there is merchandise fans can buy to support the group. Hells Angels has a support shop where non-members can show their appreciation for the bikers' way of life.
Members love getting the support because proceeds who to local charters. The more merchandise they sell, the more events that they can put on for fellow bikers and other community members to enjoy.
You Have To Be Clean
Given their reputation as tough guys, you would think the Hells Angels wouldn't be concerned about what substances its members use. The truth is the group is very strict about any members using illicit substances.
The Toronto based charter of the club told The Star, "All 'contact or use of [substances] is strictly forbidden' as is the use of needles ‘for pleasure.’" The bottom line is this -- stay clean or get kicked out of the club.
You Can't Link To Their Website Without Permission
Another rule about the Hells Angels that isn't as surprising as it sounds is this -- you cannot link to the club's website without express written consent. Because of how protective the club is of its members, this rule makes complete sense.
As the rule is written on their website, it reads, "You may not establish and/ or operate links to this website without the prior written consent of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Such consent may be withdrawn at any time at the Hells Angels MCs own discretion."
Prospects Cannot Retaliate Against Hazing
Once you officially become a prospect to join the Hells Angels, there is one big rule you have to follow. You cannot, under any circumstances, retaliate against hazing. This is important because the process can often be a violent one.
According to the club's bylaws, this practice is not done to belittle potential members, but is instead seen as a test of their character. If you retaliate, you are not deemed worthy to continue the initiation process.
Only Members Can Wear Official Merchandise
While it is possible for supporters of the Hells Angels to buy merchandise, only club members are allowed to wear official merchandise. The club takes this rule as seriously as they do the patches on their vests.
If you are caught wearing merchandise intended to impersonate the Hells Angels, you can expect retaliation. Just make sure that if you do plan to support the club, you are going through the proper channels!
Patches Are Sacred
As members grow with the Hells Angels and rise through the ranks of the club, they are given patches. These patches are seen as sacred symbols and must be respected with the utmost care.
The rules about protecting these sacred patches are so strict it is even rumored that Hells Angels members must refuse to let doctors cut through the patches if bodily trauma needs to be taken care of!
Consent Is Required
Despite their tough reputation, it should be clear by now that the Hells Angels require members to show quite a bit of respect and restraint. This rule even applies to their interactions with women.
Any member must get consent. Taking advantage of women is unacceptable and the club has a zero tolerance policy towards this behavior. Break that policy and a member will find themselves in a world of hurt!
They Don't Talk About Missing Members
As respectful as the organization can seem, the Hells Angels are also very secretive and protective about its members. This protection even extends to anyone associated with the club who has gone missing.
Members, as you know, are not allowed to talk to the media about members, but they also should not discuss other members with anyone not associated with the club. This not only protects the privacy of members, but it also protects them from law enforcement when necessary.
Some Charters Will Allow Non-Harleys Under One Condition
Across the Hells Angels organization, it is widely accepted that the only motorcycles members can ride are Harley Davidsons. We even wrote it as one of the rules earlier. While most charters abide by this rule, some will allow members to ride non-Harleys as long as their bikes are American made.
One of the other acceptable bikes, according to some charters, are Buell Motorcycles, a brand that was originally established in Wisconsin in 1983.
The Club Always Comes First
Once you join the Hells Angels, you are considered family, which means that no matter what else is going on in your life, the club comes first. Being a member means having voting rights and being an active participant in the club, and you are expected to value this above all else.
Because it is a lifetime commitment, and even wives are expected to understand they come second to the club, you must fully embrace your new lifestyle. You won't have time to join a yacht club any time soon.