On March 17, 1948, the first Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was founded in the Fontana/San Bernardino area in the United States of America.
The San Bernardino chapter (also called “Berdoo”) still exists, although most of its original members at one time moved northwards to Oakland. This removal is probably the reason why many outsiders wrongly describe Oakland as the Mother Chapter of Hells Angels MC World.
During the fifties more Hells Angels Chapters came into existence. In the beginning the chapters had nothing to do with each other, but after some years united and regular criteria of admission were laid down.
From having been exclusively a Californian phenomenon, the club developed internationally in 1961.
It happened when the first chapter outside California was adopted – strangely enough in Auckland, New Zealand. During the sixties the Hells Angels spread out to the East Coast of the USA and later to the Midwest.
On July 30, 1969, the first European Hells Angels chapter was accepted in London, England and today there are more than 125 chapters in Europe alone.
In the late seventies Australian clubs were admitted, and the brand is now a worldwide phenomenon.
The time Hunter S. Thompson got his arse kicked by the Hells Angels
Hunter S. Thompson is considered one of the great writers of the 20th century, known by many for his musings on politics and drug culture, though it was his time spent with the Hells Angels that truly launched his literary career.
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Snag’s career in motoring journalism spans 29 years with stints at major bike mags Australian Road Rider, Motorcycle Trader and AMCN along with contributions to just about every other outlet worth a hill of beans. He was editor of Unique Cars magazine and hosts his legendary podcast ‘Snag Says’ when he gets off his date.
