Hell's Angels.
 

I am interested in your image of the Hell's Angels? I was talking about the Hell's Angels with my many Facebook friends especially those in California and Nevada. My older brother used to live with basketball coach in a small town in Austin, Nevada and there would often be Hell's Angels there. He found them no different than other people. Some good, some bad, some ugly.

I had a client when I was with Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners who was with one of the nastier motorcycle clubs in the Midwest. The man had done some very nasty things to get into Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater. This was not the Hell's Angels though. The guy seemed like one very mean dude.

The Hell's Angels now seem to do a lot of charity work according to their various Facebook pages. I know that image and reality are often very far removed from one another. I did not become friends with any of the Hell's Angels Facebook pages though so I can only see what they post for the public and not what is on there for friends if there is even any difference. Could all be a PR campaign.

Anyone have any true stories about the Hell's Angels? Not tall tales but things that actually happened?

My imagination readily thinks of the motorcyclists in the movie "Wild Hogs" with John Travolta.

Yet, deep down they cannot be all the same. People, especially in need are looking to belong. They are befriended and for better or worse join a group to meet their present but ever changing needs. When I think of some of the cults and gangs and my kids, I think...."but for the Grace of God...."

I don't know if it was HellsAngels but I was at a lakeside resort, a family place and with about 50 children near the beach getting ready for a frog race (banned now that we know better). Then we heard the noise of dozens of rough-looking motorcyclists who saw the resort sign and apparently we're looking for fun. Everyone in the resort stopped and you could hear a pin drop and some were trembling...except for the kids with their little bucket and frogs. The motorcyclists stopped at the bottom of the driveway and were surrounded by happy laughing five year olds. They smiled at the kids and jokingly laughed with each other before slowly driving back out of the resort.

My second encounter was at Tampa General where I worked with grieving relatives. Someone came in with a bullet wound and behind him a large group of these guys. Quickly the doctors told me to take them to the quiet room. I was a 105 lb lady but they went there to wait but would not let me "quiet them" as they discussed loudly and argued about their shot friend. I began to get worried about the noise. About five minutes later, a very elderly four-foot something, frail looking woman came in. She went up to the biggest guy and started telling him off and told the rest to quiet and sit down. They knew her! They obeyed....but in about ten minutes, the big guy whispered in a low voice to me..."Get her outa here".

I found this very interesting-- http://www.cnbc.com/id/101235239

An old army buddy of mine appeared in this 1972 classic. OK... so it's not "The Wild One."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LZnOTz5OQU

Now that is funny. I got interested in this because someone I know claimed that the Hell's Angels members peed on their pants and then never washed them. Because of this urine, they really stank to high heaven. That made no sense to me so I asked my Reno-California Facebook friends about it. The Hell's Angels were known to put motor oil on their pants and did not wash them probably because that would ruin their washer and dryer. The motor oil treatment gave them extra protection if they fell off their bikes from road rash.

They're people. Some of them are really bad guys, some lost souls. They are frequently violent. They do do some good (e.g., annual Christmas run for Toys for Tots). They're known as drug traffickers for good reason. Their treatment of women is abysmal at best but, for some odd reason, they do seem to respect their elders and are gentle around children. At least this was the case with the Angels I knew in the 70s, 80s and 90s. I have my doubts that they've changed all that much. They are not people I want as neighbors but they do make great protectors.

You may want to read the book, No Angel. I think that's the name. It is about a DEA agent who infiltrated the HA. According to the book, they are pretty bad. Basically organized crime bad, many with murders on their sheet.

But they do not smell of urine? :jester:

Thanks for your input redwitch. I did not like any of the Hell's Angels Facebook pages I looked at as I do want to be associated with the Hell's Angels in any way.

They did a bang up job as protectors at Altamont.......

8 Big Reasons the 1969 Altamont Festival was a Tragic Disaster « 100.7 WZLX

I knew a young man who joined the Hells Angels. He had some good points but after a divorce and depression he joined up with the local chapter. He rode a loud Harley with aftermarket exhaust. He said that in his chapter there were some really bad people and they did some bad things. He wouldn't elaborate.

Thanks for that information. I had forgotten this.

And for those who haven't seen the film "Gimme Shelter" this is on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMh...st=WL&index=21

Interesting and disturbing.

Yup. Great protectors. the comment was a direct reference to Altamont in my mind. Hey, the Stones were unmolested, right?

As to smell, their riding jeans do stink but not of urine. I don't know how true the motor oil story is but it makes sense and it fits the stench.

Tough watch and unforgettable. BTW, thanks for attaching the Criterion Collection version.