Sonny Barger: The man who built the Hells Angels
Who is Sonny Barger? Keep reading to learn about the man who transformed the Hells Angels into a global organisation of outlaws.
Image: Hells Angels: Kingdom Come
Everyone has heard of the Hells Angels. The notorious biker club first became a symbol of counterculture, protest and patriotism in the 1950s and 1960s. The leather-clad outlaws were the inspiration for the 1969 film Easy Rider, and have since been the subject of countless documentaries and biographies.
One of the most influential figures in the club’s history is Sonny Barger. At just 19 years old, he founded the Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels and unified rival gangs for global domination.
The Sky HISTORY team takes a closer look at Barger’s reign in Hells Angels: Kingdom Come, starting Monday, 19th January at 10pm. Featuring previously unseen footage and interviews with current and former members, the series examines how the club evolved over time.
Unorthodox upbringing
Sonny Barger was born Ralph Hubert Barger Jr. in Modesto, California. When he was just four months old, his mother abandoned the family, leaving him and his sister with their alcoholic father, Ralph, and strict Pentecostal grandmother. Barger would later describe his father as a 'hardworking, hard-drinking functioning alcoholic.'
Ralph Sr. would often take his young son to work on the docks before cruising the city’s waterfront bars. Through these outings, Barger was exposed to heavy drinking and criminal behaviour from an early age.
Not caring for school and often dubbed a troublemaker, Barger joined the US Army. However, he was honourably discharged when officials discovered he had lied about his age to gain entry.
Founding the Oakland chapter
Adrift and disconnected, a young Barger craved belonging. So, after being discharged, he joined the Oakland Panthers motorcycle club in 1956. But it wasn’t enough for the lonely teen, who later explained in his autobiography: 'I needed more than a couple of weekender rides. I needed a second family.… I felt no brotherhood.'
Disillusioned, he began drinking with a group of veterans who encouraged him to form a club with them. The following year, he founded the Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels. This move would ultimately place Oakland at the centre of the organisation’s future.
Once the chapter was established, Barger turned his attention to other gangs in the area and beyond. He was hellbent on creating the second family he so desperately craved, no matter the personal cost or threat from law enforcement.
A seismic shift came in 1958 when the president of the San Bernardino chapter was incarcerated and a 20-year-old Barger took the reins. This was his golden opportunity to transform the Hells Angels into something extraordinary.
Creating a brand and brotherhood
Thanks to Barger’s leadership, the Hells Angels evolved from a ramshackle collection of motorcycle gangs into a unified brotherhood. The next step was to extend the club’s influence, which required a clever media strategy.
Before he could focus on how others perceived the Hells Angels, he needed to address the lack of order from within. Historically, the club wasn't known for its loyalty or discipline, something that threatened Barger’s long-term vision. So, he introduced clear structures and internal hierarchies to stamp out dissent.
Next, he framed membership as a lifelong commitment, enforcing loyalty through strict rules and punishment. While these measures seemed harsh, they forged strong bonds between members. You were either all in, or all out.
Order restored, Barger turned his attention towards building a recognisable brand. He softened the club’s image through charity work and sometimes cooperated with law enforcement, if the price was right.
Controversies
Despite his best efforts to sanitise the Hells Angels’ image, Barger couldn’t help but get muddled up in controversy and crime. Many members were military veterans who viewed themselves as defenders of traditional American values, and they weren’t afraid to confront anyone they believed threatened them.
In 1965, the Hells Angels attended an anti–Vietnam War rally in Berkeley, not to demonstrate, but to confront protesters they deemed unpatriotic. Violence quickly escalated, reinforcing growing concerns about the group’s motives and methods.
Four years later, the Rolling Stones hired the Hells Angels to provide security at a free concert at the Altamont Speedway. The event descended into chaos when festival goers allegedly 'interfered' with members’ bikes. Fights broke out and 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was fatally stabbed.
Death and legacy
Barger was a pioneer and figurehead of the Hells Angels, leading from the front until his death from liver cancer on 29th June 2022. His funeral was attended by more than 7,000 people, each with a story to tell of the rebellious forefather.
His legacy lives on today in television, film and literature, with factions of the Hells Angels still going strong around the world. Barger ultimately reached his goal of global domination, despite challenges and controversies along the way.
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