Ever since they formed in 1948 in Fontana, California, the Hells Angels have been probably the most famous, or better yet infamous, among all the international motorcyclists’ organizations. The members of the group have been getting on the wrong side of the law and attracting controversy since its inception. But, despite their reputation as a bunch of troublemakers, they’re actually loyal and respectful to one set of rules — their own! The Hells Angels official vest comes with a fairly extensive set of strict guidelines. Check out this list of the rules and facts every Hells Angels needs to know by heart.
Don’t Bother Asking to Join
There’s no formal process or even an application form to join the Hells Angels. Even the FAQ section on the official website states jokingly, “If you have to ask, you probably won’t understand the answer.”
So, your best option here is to make friends with an existing group member and wrangle an exclusive invite to a hang-out. It’s an invitation-only union event where the inducted members check out prospective candidates for addition to the group.
The Unanimous Vote
Being an official full-patch member in the Hells Angels requires a unanimous vote. The next big step after being a prospect is to be voted in unanimously by the rest of the charter. But, before that, the prospect usually goes to each charter in the area to introduce himself.
After being voted by their group charter, the prospects are inducted into the club through an initiation ceremony and are awarded the official vests. This act of successfully achieving a full membership is referred to as being patched.
Once an Angel, Always an Angel
Once you’re inducted as an official Hells Angel, you’re in for life. There’s simply no backing out until you deliberately cut your ties off, or worse, get kicked out for breaking a rule. Otherwise, the members don’t retire and their charters are essentially their second families.
Group members spend a lot of time together over the years and get to know each other well, just like a family. Even when one of them passes, fellow members unite to honor the memory of their fallen brother.
Members Are Like Family
This biker brotherhood isn’t just an amalgamation of motorcycle enthusiasts. It’s a belief system, a way of life, something all the members connect through profoundly. The passion runs much deeper and so do their mutual feelings for their fellow brothers.
Hells Angels members are initially united by their common passion for riding bikes, but it’s the familial connection that makes them so drawn and devoted to the club. That’s why the club is also very harsh in dealing with those who spoil this vibe.
The Club Comes First, Always
Once you join the club, you’re considered as one of the family. And Hells Angels is not just a club, it’s a complete lifestyle. That means, no matter what else is going on in your life, the club comes first, at any cost.
Being a club member means you’re an active participant in all activities and have voting rights. You’re also expected to value this role above everything else in your life. So, don’t think about joining another club anytime soon!
Vests Are Sacred
Once a prospect becomes a full-fledged member, he gets the official vest adorned with the sewn patches of the club’s name, the iconic logo, and the name of his charter. This vest is sacred and members go out of their way to protect it.
If they get arrested, they hand their vests to fellow members for safe-keeping until they get released. Even if they get caught up in an accident, they do whatever they can to avoid their vests getting torn or ripped.
So Are the Patches
The patches are sacred, too! As members grow and rise through the ranks in the club, they’re given patches accordingly. The members respect these patches as their sacred symbols and treat them with the utmost care.
So, protect your patches at any cost if you get inducted into the club. So much so, that you may have to refuse to let a doctor cut through the patches during treatment after an accident! Better to steer clear of accidents then, right?
The Meaningful Patches
Yes, the Hells Angels patches are sacred, but not always for pure reasons. Apart from the logo and charter names, there’re a few other patches that can be earned by the members throughout their lifespan in the group.
Obviously, those patches have specific meanings and signify deeds accomplished by the member. The patch ‘Dequiallo’ is worn by those who have met law enforcement with violence after getting arrested. The ‘Filthy Few’ patch is for those who have or are willing to do anything for the club!
The Dress Code
The group has a strict dress code for its members, though the rules vary slightly from charter to charter. The newbies can only wear shirts, black jeans, and vests with the group logo. Some charters don’t even allow shorts.
While some charters only allow all black wear, some are a bit more lenient by allowing blue jeans and camouflage patterns. This distinction of design and color codes helps distinguish the charter you belong to and also establishes further allegiance to your group.
Only Members Should Wear the Official Merchandise
The ironclad rule about official merchandise also applies to non-members, only they can’t sport them at all! Though they can buy it to show support in Hells Angels rallies, impersonating a member wearing a club insignia is a big no-no.
So, think long and hard before you start wearing your Hells Angels vest around town. They’re also not shy about retribution, so it’s better not to dress like a Hells Angel if you’re not one, even if it’s for Halloween!
Protecting the Brand Is Crucial
Well, now you know the importance of official merchandise to the Hells Angels members. But, you still don’t know how far they’re willing to go to protect its brand value! Surprisingly, in this case, the group prefers to abide by the law.
The Hells Angels have sued several large companies accusing them of using or imitating their insignia without prior permission. Some of their famous lawsuits are against Alexander McQueen, Saks Fifth, Zappos.com, Toys “R” Us, and yes, Disney, after it used the Hells Angels logo in Wild Hogs.
Attending Club Events
The highlight of your Hells Angels way of life is attending the club’s activities, meet-ups, and events. Your attendance will mark your seriousness about the organization. Members who fail to show up repeatedly without any reason are eventually cut off from the group.
The organization has a strict attendance code for prospects and newbies, too. If you want to make it past the hanging-around phase of recruitment, well, you’ve to hang around tight! Otherwise, you’ll be out of luck!
Don’t Interrupt a Meeting
Whatever image you might have in your mind, Hells Angels members are actually very well-behaved and orderly in their meetings. To keep things civilized, they follow “Robert’s Rules of Order,” which was written in 1876 in order to help business meetings stay diplomatic and courteous.
As per the rules, members must stick to the agenda and can’t interrupt a meeting unless it’s absolutely necessary. Questions should be asked before and after the meeting. Breaking this rule can even result in a hefty $100 fine!
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
In the case of Hells Angels, what happens in meet-ups stays in meet-ups. If you pick up a juicy piece of gossip about another group member, share it at your peril!
Group members take their collective vow of silence very seriously, and won’t even talk about absent members. If someone suddenly stops showing up at meetings without giving any information, active members won’t bother making a call or mentioning it to anyone else.
