Contrary to some of the comments on previous posts, I’m really not on a rant about motorcycle gangs or evangelizing that riders join any Rotary Club on wheels.
I have noticed that there is a renewed interest and a lot of media attention surrounding television shows on outlaw biker gangs. These shows follow two types of stereotypes, the bad evil biker dudes or the cuddly “Wild Hogs“. The latest is the FX cable network which ordered up 13-episodes of the drama series called “Sons of Anarchy,” which centers on an outlaw biker “club” and how the club’s efforts to protect its home in fictional Charming, Calif., from suburbanization.
The show was originally called “Forever Sam Crow”, however, the litigation happy Hells Angels caught wind of the pilot from Kurt Sutter (writer & director) who was in a Variety interview and there were references to a specific Northern CA. motorcycle “club”…shortly after the interview hit the newswire they received a cease and desist notice from the same “club”. Something about copyright infringement so, the name of the TV show and club was changed.
This is reminiscent of last years lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court of CA where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation claimed the characters in the Disney movie “Wild Hogs” were identified as members of the “club”. I don’t know about you, but Dudley didn’t make me nervous sporting leather clad gear and a do-rag.
And then there’s HBO’s show under development called “1%” from “The Player” writer Michael Tolkin about a biker “club” in small-town Arizona. The outlaw biker gang phenomenon has always made for interesting debate, but with the media getting involved things have gotten dicey because some of the actual places named and used in the script were identifiably associated with Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels (such as the primary location being Carefree, AZ, which is the town adjacent to where Barger presently resides, and that the principal character moved there from Northern CA, which is what Barger did too). Barger’s production company pulled out the litigation play book and sued HBO in Los Angeles. The 60-year old wants the court to declare the “1% Script” as a joint work with Tolkin, enjoin Tolkin and HBO from selling or exhibiting the program, and award compensatory damages for exploiting Barger’s publicity rights. Fritz Clapp is Barger’s attorney to the complaint (courtesy of Reporter blog) contends that the script was developed with Barger’s collaboration, however, HBO, the White Mountain Company, and writer/producer Michael Tolkin cut him out of the project and violated his publicity rights when he demanded changes.
Whether you’re a biker “club” (as members say), a gang (as police allege), or a syndicate (as federal agents charge) one thing is clear… do-gooder philanthropists donating to toys-for-tots doesn’t sell anything. But, marauding drug dealers, corruption, crime, murder and mayhem sells advertising and that’s what this is all about. Media companies serving up another dish of nightly violent entertainment for middle-Americans about jack-booted thugs posing as celebrities who are either misunderstood or maligned to get you to buy another tube of toothpaste.
I’m thinking Fox should have a “Biker Gang Survival” channel. Let’s call it “American Loser”…the show will make millions!
Photo is courtesy of Kurt Sutter blog.
if you really knew them you would love the hells angels,or really hate them ,but not this standing in the middle,and as long as you do not fuck them up their ass,then you have nothing to worry about,or just let them be. unless your a sult like me then thats is another story.
That I think is not so true. If you know anything about HA history or anything about any of the big 5 1% clubs is that they are extremely dangers. The idea that one could stick their head in the ground and they won’t bother you is insane. They are concerned about one thing MAKING MONEY thats it. Now I do believe that there are those in the clubs that are not all bad, but it is like saying that not every soldier in the Nazi’s army is not bad. One only needs to look at the organization as a whole and see what it really stands for. I personally think that they are criminals from first had experience dealing with them.
To mr. bob, the biker’s families good or bad do many think’s in the communities around the nation helping the elders and child’s what they do in they’r private life it’s not our bussines it’s not a crime till you get caught, we live free and die free, and protected by the constitution, OUTSIDERS 4 LIFE. =)
If a Cop gets caught selling drugs no one says all Cops are drug deals! If a Biker gets caught selling Drugs everyone say see look that proves it they are all drug dealers !!! When Motorcycle Clubs do toy runs it is on the News and in the Paper and ever articale says that we do it for good public releations so Poeple forget we are drug dealers. If we where drugs dealers we would have stopped doing the toy runs by now because all we get is bad press about being Drug dealers !!!
In the Movie Wild Hogs! The Producers wanted to use the Hells Angels name and colors without their permission as the Name and Colors/logo is Trademarked they Could not do so!
look at the “Gang” in Wild Hoggs they where mindless punk Bullies, Motorcycle Clubs are not like that ! I’m sure there may be a few clubs who pop up like that from time to time, but the real Motorcycle clubs who are sick of the bad image those clubs give to all MC’s do not allow them to stay around! Real Motorcycle Clubs are made up of men who are not looking for a fight but are ready if one comes along!!!
I have said what you said at the end of the articale a hundred times good bikers do not sell !!! I’m hoping this show Sons of Anarchy will show Bikers as they really are!!!
Now what do you think is going to happen when people start buying jackets and shirts with “Sons of Anarchy” on the patch and with top and bottom CA rocker and riding their brand new Harley Sportster up to their local biker bar?
The show should come with a warning.
What a bunch of mindless dribble. MC’s are about the ride, the freedom and the extra protien all those swallowed bugs provide. We ride for fun, we ride together for brotherhood, we ride what we ride for pride. So with that said, does every person flying the Earnhard flag live in a trailer, and only have half their teeth? Doctors, lawyers, and even teachers ride, what does that teach our children…… diversity. Would I ride with a H.O.G. group, or an A.B.A.T.E. club, hell no, but I will wave on my way by….. I’ll even wave at those kids on their rice burners, at least their ridin. And oh yeah, the only drug I’ve ever supplied anyone was extra strength tylenol. Am I an angel, no, but I’m not the devil either.
Wave, don’t point.
Nod, don’t shake.
And for god’s sake give us a little room, we don’t have steel wrapped around us.
And by the way Bob, I think you need to pull your head outta the sand.
I don’t have cable, so I had no idea that biking gangs were becoming media darlings. It’s interesting but I don’t think I’d ever watch a show about them. Good for them though, getting media attention.
I think the debate over what a Motorcycle Club is or isn’t is very easy to answer. If you wanna know what your local MC is/are doing,… go find out! Hang around, talk (respectfully!) to actual patch-holders, (most of us don’t bite too much) and learn first-hand what it’s all about. Don’t take someone else’s word for it, don’t believe what the media sells you, go see and experience it for yourself. It’s strange to me that most people question and are suspicious of pretty much everything that either the media or the government tries to tell them. But when it comes to MC’s, they swallow it all like the gospel truth.
If you are REALLY interested, and you really wanna know the truth, take a little time and go find out. Be an intelligent, independent human being and make up your own mind. It’s not that hard.
As far as the show, Sons Of Anarchy goes, I like it so far. It’s far-fetched and WAY over the top but it’s still entertaining. I even see some things that are very realistic about the life. Then the next thing is totally ridiculous. In one episode I see the Members heading into a meeting, and they all toss their pagers, cell phones, etc. onto a table in another room before they go in and sit down. Nice touch and pretty damn close to reality.
In the next scene, I see Members riding in cages (cars, automobiles, whatever) with their Cuts (Colors, vests,… you get the idea) on. I don’t know of ANY actual Motorcycle Club that would allow such disrespect of their Colors by their Members.
So I think you have to take the show with a grain of salt. It is, after all designed to entertain, excite and entice viewers so that they will keep tuning in, buy fan merchandise and maybe even get hooked by the sponsors’ commercials and buy some of whatever they’re hawking.
One thing: I have to agree with Major,… I have seen merchandise from the show which, for all intents and purposes is what we refer to as “Members-Only” gear. Items that ONLY an actual patch-holder in a particular Club would have access to and be allowed to have or wear. This could very easily lead to problems. Hopefully it will not, but I think the merchandising team behind the show should have done their homework a lot better.
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
Hermanos M.C.
HFFH – BBAO!
To Hermano Roadrash……. WELL SAID MAN! I have only caught a little of one episode of this “Sons of Anarchy” show and I have to say that while I was ENTERTAINED….I was NOT at all thinking to myself….this is how the other MC clubs are…..Not even for a second.
I think that from a “hollywood” perspective…it’s all fine and good to make a show like this….At the end of the day in America; Sex and Violence SELLS…..like it or not…it just does.
I absolutely agree that for the NON motorcycle riding folks out there who have formed an opinion of what a motorcycle club or it’s members are all about – SHOULD actually meet some of us in person…Talk to a member of an MC and find out all on their own what a local MC in their area is about. Sure, they should do it with respect and should not approach a MC member like a drunk biligerant fool (they will likely not appreciate the response they get if they do).They should not be so quick to judge what they truly don’t know.
It’s sad that people are so easily influenced by those same people that they claim disgust them on a daily basis…..THEY being the media and the like.
Just let us who ride and who ride with an MC do so without all the BS…..and if you are unsure of an MC….pull the chicken shit stick out of your ass and just TALK to some of them… You might actually find them to be pretty decent guys who love to ride and who like the “brotherhood” their club provides and aren’t actually just evil criminals.
SOA is a great show , but is about as realistic an example of a MC, as House is a doctor and senior member of a medical team.
I have known some guys from MC’s and while most of them generally do not allow their colors to be worn in “Cages,” they are also decent hard working human beings, with families and friends, and do a lot of good things like Bikers for Christ, Bikers for MDA, Bikers for the Children’s Miracle Network, Bikers for the Cure, and the list goes on.
The unfortunate thing about ANY criminal, caught or not, is that most crimes are perpetrated AGAINST other individuals in the name of brotherhood, greed, self-perpertuating interest that quite often causes harm to others and doesn’t do a damn thing to improve the soul of the person who has perpetrated the crime. So, does crime pay? Sometimes, yes it does. People get money, drugs, blood, inflated pride, all kinds of stuff to feed their own egos or bow-down to those they esteem important…probably because many of these people are just “yes-men,” bottom line. Now, what kind of meaningful life is that? Cowardice, shame, stupidity, destructiveness? Wow, how impressive! Maybe these “real men” and “dumb women” — and whatever’s in-between should look up what T. Roosevelt says: “It’s not the critic who counts….” — type-stuff; what D. Roosevelt did — “The New Deal,” what John Kennedy said, obviously before his head was blown off, “Ask not what your motorcycle gang can do for you, but what you can do for your motorcycle gang can do for you?” Wow, dude, did he really say THAT? I always knew he was a cool dude! Yay, let’s all go out, be really cool, prove it, who cares what destruction, harm and stupidity we do…afterall, we’re NOT worth preserving anything good, especially our souls in light of eternity. Oh yeah, we don’t believe in eternity, do we? Just the here and now and how we can f— it up real good, er, I mean bad. “We’re really something, now aren’t we?”
Hmmmmmm.
You believe that crap? In fact, what you believe and do show your true colors, after all.
Hellion,
You sure got that Kennedy quote all messed up. What were you REALLY trying to say?
What does it matter? Who’s reading this right now anyway! We’re all headed to Reno for the September 2008 Street Vibrations. There we can be one fantastic, anonymous, even unanimous brother and sisterhood, all the good mixed with the evil, so much so, you probably won’t be able to tell it apart. Why did that guy die in San Francisco recently? I don’t know, I guess, it’s not my business.
Just watched this week’s episode and the series, IMHO, is finally starting to come together.
It IS entertainment. No one really thinks all the CSI shows, for example, represent the reality of what CSIs really do on a daily basis…at least I hope not. SOA is just a show, just entertainment, same as “Then Came Bronson” was so many years ago now.
I appreciate when they get some of The Life right, and chuckle when they go “Hollywood” and get it all wrong. Makes for a good hour’s worth of relaxation…right after “Dog the Bounty Hunter” where I live.
Right on for SOA – the show.
As for SOA support gear – I’d hope anyone and everyone figures out if some rider is wearing such gear they’re not worth fussing over – other than maybe snickering at. After all, the show’s got real world 1%ers as tech advisors and it’s said some outlaws are playing SOA/Mayan “outlaws” (good work and $$ if you can get it) and no doubt they’ve got some SOA support gear tucked away themselves.
Plus, it’s nice to see “Peg” from “Married with Children” has dumped the shoe salesman and hooked up with a lean’ n mean MC president
Love the show, Love the Scooters, Not really concerned about the general public getten dar arrss kicked. I’ve seen 20 somthings running around with shirts and patches of the elite branchs of the Military. These brothers in arms fought and died under these symbols. These kids don’t have a clue what those symbols mean, they just think they are cool. I don’t say nothing to em, they are comatose when it comes to history and honor. It’s not gonna be any different here, some 1% are gonna be insulted & some ain’t gonna care. Thats Life. Hint (It’s only TV)
I’ve gotta agree with Pappy. Katie Segal is the show’s true standout! She has the whole package down pat. She’s got the look, the attitude, the cunning,… everything. She kinda creeps me out sometimes, the way she reminds me of my Ol’ Lady! As far as authenticity goes, she is far and away the best on the show.
I do like Ron Perlman, and think he is doing a good job. Plus, he gets some of the best (funniest) lines.
I just hope that Opie doesn’t get himself caught by the cops and end up turning snitch just to keep his family. Remember, “Snitches are a dying breed!”
Anybody besides me think that Jemma and Clay killed Jax’s father?
Also, why haven’t I seen any “In Memory Of” patches? If his father was the Club’s founder, I would think they would have all kinds of stuff (patches, T-shirts, pictures, plaques, etc.) to pay respect to him.
They also have no T-shirts from previous runs, other Chapters, etc.. Almost no “members-only” gear.
Well, they keep getting more details as the series progresses,… I’ll keep tuning in.
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
Good news: SAMCO has been picked up another season by FX
I know there’s much debate about this show…total snooze or totally awesome so, it looks like we get another season to test the water.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993543.html?categoryId=14&cs=1
-mac
I’d just like to point out that the vast majority of people in prison are Christians, does that make all Christians criminals? of course not. Just because a lot of Catholic priests are pedophiles doesn’t mean all religious nuts rape children…. Fred Phelps doesn’t mean all Christians are bigots… does he? Just because YHWH commanded his people to kill hundreds of thousands or millions of people in the old testament, and to rape the little virgin girls while plundering all they could carry, that doesn’t make all gods psychopathic, genocidal fictitious representations of the wants and fears of a group of backwards cave people and shepherds, does it?
I noticed that in the latest episode Piney was wearing an old, faded, beat-up SOA T-shirt of some kind. I guess they are slowly getting the small shit right.
Now if they could just quit wearing their Colors in cages,…
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
T.V. is one thing but this whole “outlaw” biker lifestyle is such a total scam on society. These guys claim they dont care what society thinks yet they’re scrambling to change their image . Why? For the money. 90% of them are socially stunted by choice so its “easier” to join these clubs full of other “non-conformists” than to try and coexist in their environments. Pretty soon you got a bunch of these guys all conforming …..same colors,same set of rules,same vehicles. Hypocrites!! The fact that drug money is a hellof alot easier to make than earning a living does’nt hurt either. So you got a bunch of”non-conformists” running around wreaking havoc, terrorizing the country because they’re too much of a bunch of pussies, they have to take the easy way out. Then Hollywood in all it’s infinite wisdom has to cash in on it, making for a whole future generation of idiot,no-brain followers worshipping these lazy cretins. Oh well, aint that america? Ya gotta love it!
Why does “Jax” the only one to have a rocker that reads “SAMCRO” on the left side of his vest. Any significance or is it just hollywood double meaning like in the movie “The Shining” and native americans?
As far as I have noticed, all the Members of the Redwood Originals Charter have the same front rocker.
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
Well said Hermano. Talk to a patch (respectfully!) if you want to learn about a patch.
If you’re too busy to catch the show at night…new episodes are posted eight days after their initial TV broadcast and available on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/sons-of-anarchy) for twenty-two days. The first two episodes will be up until the end of the year.
Well, I guess next week will be the season finale. Hope it’s a good one, not a damn cliff-hanger. Of course, since this is an FX show, it prob’ly will be.
I hope they don’t kill off Opie, I’m startin’ to kinda like him. I wish they’d get ridda Jax, he’s worthless. I’m guessin’ he’ll find out about the plot to kill Opie and decide to become a rat for the Feds. Then that’ll be the plot,… all his “moral” and “personal” conflicts of interest. Ble-e-e-e-ech! I sure hope it doesn’t go that way. That would ruin the show for me.
Wardrobe seems to be gettin’ better, I’ve seen more “old” Members-Only gear. Now if they would just quit wearin’ their Cuts in their cages! Oh well,….. that’s Hollywierd for ya!
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
American Loser? really? Bob let me tell you something. freedom is not free and places like California arent not free anymore. most people envy them because they are free to do what they want when they want. not because they are scary or make good shows. Its called a transient life style and you don’t have to be in a MC to experience that. If you do own a bike , which i think you don’t then ride it California and open your eyes look around you’ll see a star bucks on every corner next to a micky Ds and a wal-mart. I wish sons of Anarchy were real because this place is greedy.
Jemma is awesome. I love the way she is just down for the family, and does not care who knows about it. The scene where she is in jail and the MC Club pres sits down and says
” You are staying so am I ” made me cry. Its so real, that I want that kind of relationship some day.
( I agree with Hermano …Jemma killed Jax’s father, I bet because he turned into a snitch. )
Well, I watched the season finale and I gotta say, it should be the SHOW finale!
I realize that it’s “just a show”, but couln’t we at least have a LITTLE bit of realism?
Jax attacking a Brother, his own Sgt-At-Arms, to protect a citizen? A RAT citizen at that? He would be out bad in a hearbeat, if he lived that long! What a load of crap. Jax showed his true “colors”, and they are chickenshit green!
There is no way the shows writers can possibly come back from this with any semblance of credibility.
Opie’s Dad said “It’s time for a change”. He’s right. They need to get rid of Jax. Other than that, the only way that I can think of for the show to go on would be if Jax, Opie, and a few others left the Sons and formed their own Club. Then the conflict would be between them and the SOA. Of course, since the Sons is protrayed as being a larger Club with Chapters in at least four states, the chances of an upstart, independent Club making it would be slim to none.
Anyway, I hope everyone out there is having a great holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
yeah the last 40 something years the news has just been pickin on “club” guys right….blood on the streets wouldnt have anything to do with why the public looks down on you right?The concept of willingness to commit MURDER for the club alone suggests a criminal mindset….last I checked chess club members didnt shoot eachother over disputes…..So I expect im gonna hear “thats not all members”..To that I say guilty by association If you really had any moral fiber you would dissassociate yourself immediately thereafter.right?
Jax is not a snitch and for clay and them if they were a real brotherhood they would of listen to opie? Now jax and opie have a brotherhood that they would stick together no matter what and that is what brotherhoods do. And as for you Hermano Roadrash i would hate to be part of your brotherhood since all you want to do is kill your own brothers! and for the show i like it and the only puss i have seen on the show is clay and Tig Trager they are the ones who have shown there true colors right after opie saved tigs life when he was curled up in a ball. A lot of people out there today act big and tuff when there are around others but when push comes to shove they dont want no part of it people need to realize you only get out of it is what you put into it. It is a show if your all clubs were so good then they would have a show of your club to
Why does “Jax” the only one to have a rocker that reads “SAMCRO” on the left side of his vest. Any significance or is it just hollywood double meaning like in the movie “The Shining” and native americans
Everyone remember that SOA is a tv show supervised by Hollywood stiffs in corporate American suits. You get biased views on bikers with studio drama and hype. They do what they got to do to sell the show and get the ratings. So far it seems like things went well for them. I watched the entire season and enjoyed most of it. The sappy romance stuff between Jax and the doctor chick was a little lame and overdrawn but for the most part the show kept me coming back. My favorite from the whole season is where they removed a club tattoo with a blowtorch. Imagine the smell. When you watch any show, remember to leave the fantasy with the show in the closing credits and come back to reality before you get too far out the door. Be careful on the rode everyone and take care.
For those of you who judge bikers from what you see on T.V. congragulations. You re the reason for all the hate and viloence by being judgemental of what you think you know. Biker are family people, little league coaches, buiseness men and all around good people. Our families are just a little bigger and do whatever it takes to protect each other at each and all cost. Just because a biker gets caught for a crime does not mean every biker in the club is doing illegal activity. Next time take the time to get to know the person you grab your kid by the arm and pull away from because he has tattoos and does not fit you profile of what a person should look or act like. Motorcycle clubs are guys who enjoy to ride and hang out raising hell. If gathering togerther for what you believe in makes you a gang then We are all a memeber of some gang like it or not.
amen brother
It makes me laugh my ass off that the angels are self confessed outlaws, ie outside of thelaw but just love to sue, you can’t have it both ways boys…
Can’t wait for the biker action figures with the beer can grip and helpless sodomy victim in business attire bonus figure. Since all bikers are brutish thugs who want to kill, rape and destroy, we might as well have our own line of kids toys to put the finishing touch on the minds of the lame and the clueless who are pointing out bikers to their frightened children. I’ve seen a mother turn and run the other way just because of the way I look. I was just walking in the store to get a drink and some smokes. She acted like I was going to put her and her child in the sex trade or something. There you go….. Burly Biker action figure with bonus mother / daughter in bondage awaiting a boat ride to Thailand. Damn bikers.
talk about samcro or soa , what ever ya wanna call em
i watch the show , seen all the episodes to date , anyway
i’m a patch holder and i dont wear soa stuff , and i would laugh at whom ever was wearing such items , anyway i bought a new helmet just a few weeks ago and had asked a car guy at my place of emplyment if he knew any pen stripers in the area i wanted to really customize my helmet with my club colors . some dumb s#$t said hey why dont you put that logo of soa on your helmet , well i got pissed didnt show it ,and walked ago , that goes to show you that the general public dont know jack about much , its kinda like politics , someone always wants to say well so and so smoked pot or what ever , wheres the proof , and it shows the kinda respect for others the general public really dont have for anyone , biker,real m.c. or tv m.c. for that matter , military and the like , i get upset when some high school kid weres military gear(i server ) hasent served
as for “m.c. ” patches . people need to show respect , and no its not illegall to wear club colors , last i checked this was the u.s.a people get a life , dont worry about m.c. culture unless you plan to learn whats its about and comit your self to it . if not , leave it alone , but dont judge it or those who live it .
it says in the bible judge not lest yee be judged so dont judge me or my cut (m.c. for club colors , logo’s whatever )
some biker, what did you think of the scene where they removed the club tattoo off the guys back with a blowtorch? That was probably my favorite episode. They gave him a choice, torch or knife. What would you have picked? By the way I liked the SOA show but I think wearing the merchandise is pretty lame. If you dont mind me asking, what MC do you ride with and I ask with all due respect.