The History of the Hells Angels: 60 Years of Raising Hell

Just when you thought all gangs in the world represent themselves in the way we'd expect them to be--the longtime gang/organization Hells Angels still insist that they aren't anything more than a benign group who love motorcycles and long road trips. However, you can't blame the international public (or law enforcement) for thinking otherwise. Just in the last ten years, there's been numerous major crime busts against members of the Hells Angels. All of this when we learn in the media that they were supposedly at their most viscous in 1969 when they tried to assassinate Mick Jagger after the big-lipped one pointed a finger at the gang for causing the stabbing death of an audience member at a Rolling Stones concert. What a coincidence all this publicity happens smack dab on the 60^th anniversary of the forming of Hells Angels. Considering the legendary stories about their power, it makes you wonder if it's more than coincidence.

While various segments of the organization still debate when and who started the Hells Angels--most historians are sure it started in March of 1948 down in Fontana, California where motorcycles and racecars are perennially popular. The name came indirectly from the Flying Tigers in WWII who were part of the 303^rd Bombardment Group who, as a unit, voted to be subtitled "Hell's Angels" in 1944. In 1948, motorcycles were starting to become a popular pastime in America and the name Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was the official title given by one of those former members of the 303^rd above. His name was Arvid Olsen who's officially credited by the Hells Angels today for merely giving the name of the group in Fontana rather than joining the organization. What the details and motivations behind that story are is still shrouded in myth, which isn't all that surprising.