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!
