Ralph Hubert “Sonny” Barger, Jr. was an American outlaw biker, author and actor who was a founding member of the Oakland, California chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in 1957.
He died at 83 at his home in Livermore, California on June 22, 2022. On his facebook page, there was a post that said, “If you are reading this message, you’ll know that I’m gone. I’ve asked that this note be posted immediately after my passing.” Fritz Clapp, his former lawyer, said that Barger died because he had liver cancer.
Ralph Hubert Barger, Jr. was born in Modesto, California, on October 8, 1938. His mother left the family when Barger was only four months old, which left their Pentecostalist grandmother and alcoholic father to raise him and his older sister Shirley.
Barger was often suspended from school because heassulted teachers and g=fought with other boys. He dropped out of school in the tenth grade and many of his friends were addicted to drugs. Barger worked at a grocery store and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of sixteen. He was later given an honorable discharge fourteen months later when it was discovered that he had forged his birth certificate in order to be able to join.
After his return from the Army, Barger drifted between menial jobs and lived with his father in a single residence at a hotel, later moving in with his sister and her children.
The Oakland Panthers was the first ever motorcycle club he ever joined, which was in 1956. After that club disbanded, he started riding with another group of bikers and founded their own club named the Hells Angels on April 1, 1957. Barger and the Oakland Hells Angels were unaware at the time that there were several other, loosely affiliated, clubs using the same name throughout California. With Barger as president, the Oakland Hells Angels traveled to southern California and amalgamated with the other Hells Angels chapters, dividing territory and forming club bylaws. While infighting did take place between the chapters, conflicts predominantly arose with other clubs such as the Gypsy Jokers.
His criminal record began in 1963 after he was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was arrested again on the same charge the following year, and for assault with a deadly weapon. In the late 1960s, Barger began selling heroin and also developed an addiction to cocaine. The majority of his legitimate personal income was derived from advising various film projects. Barger and the Angels became associated with the counterculture phenomenon of the 1960s.
Six Hells Angels members were arrested and a police sergeant suffered a broken leg when a group of bikers attacked anti-Vietnam War demonstrators in Berkeley in 1965. One month later, five Hells Angels led by Barger held a press conference at their bail bondsman’s office, announcing that the club would not attend the protest the following day.
In 1970, Barger was arrested on narcotics charges after Donald Howarth and was sentenced to ninety days in jail.
Two years after the arrest, Barger and four other Hells Angels were charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon after being arrested while driving through Redwood Regional Park by park rangers who discovered two bound, gagged and beaten club prospects in the trunk of the vehicle.
Barger was sentenced to a prison term of ten years to life after he was convicted of possession of narcotics for sale (37 grams of heroin), and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in 1973.
On March 27, 1978, Barger was arrested on a parole violation charge of possession of firearms when police officers discovered a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and a rifle after arriving at his home in Oakland.
The Hells Angels have a lot of crime and violence history.
Barger was later diagnosed with throat cancer because everyday, for 30 year he had smoked three packs of Camels. He had his vocal cords removed and learned to speak through a hole in his throat, which gave his voice an eerie rasp.
In 1998, Barger returned to Arizona, where he had previously served a prison sentence, with his third wife Beth Noel and stepdaughter Sarrah. He joined the Hells Angels’ Cave Creek chapter, and operated a motorcycle repair shop.
“I’ve lived a long and good life filled with adventure. And I’ve had the privilege to be part of an amazing club. Although I’ve had a public persona for decades, I’ve mostly enjoyed special time with my club brothers, my family, and close friends. Please know that I passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer. But also know that in the end, I was surrounded by what really matters: My wife, Zorana, as well as my loved ones. Keep your head up high, stay loyal, remain free, and always value honor.”
He died at 83 at his home in Livermore, California on June 22, 2022. On his facebook page, there was a post that said, “If you are reading this message, you’ll know that I’m gone. I’ve asked that this note be posted immediately after my passing.” Fritz Clapp, his former lawyer, said that Barger died because he had liver cancer.
Ralph Hubert Barger, Jr. was born in Modesto, California, on October 8, 1938. His mother left the family when Barger was only four months old, which left their Pentecostalist grandmother and alcoholic father to raise him and his older sister Shirley.
Barger was often suspended from school because heassulted teachers and g=fought with other boys. He dropped out of school in the tenth grade and many of his friends were addicted to drugs. Barger worked at a grocery store and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of sixteen. He was later given an honorable discharge fourteen months later when it was discovered that he had forged his birth certificate in order to be able to join.
After his return from the Army, Barger drifted between menial jobs and lived with his father in a single residence at a hotel, later moving in with his sister and her children.
The Oakland Panthers was the first ever motorcycle club he ever joined, which was in 1956. After that club disbanded, he started riding with another group of bikers and founded their own club named the Hells Angels on April 1, 1957. Barger and the Oakland Hells Angels were unaware at the time that there were several other, loosely affiliated, clubs using the same name throughout California. With Barger as president, the Oakland Hells Angels traveled to southern California and amalgamated with the other Hells Angels chapters, dividing territory and forming club bylaws. While infighting did take place between the chapters, conflicts predominantly arose with other clubs such as the Gypsy Jokers.
His criminal record began in 1963 after he was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was arrested again on the same charge the following year, and for assault with a deadly weapon. In the late 1960s, Barger began selling heroin and also developed an addiction to cocaine. The majority of his legitimate personal income was derived from advising various film projects. Barger and the Angels became associated with the counterculture phenomenon of the 1960s.
Six Hells Angels members were arrested and a police sergeant suffered a broken leg when a group of bikers attacked anti-Vietnam War demonstrators in Berkeley in 1965. One month later, five Hells Angels led by Barger held a press conference at their bail bondsman’s office, announcing that the club would not attend the protest the following day.
In 1970, Barger was arrested on narcotics charges after Donald Howarth and was sentenced to ninety days in jail.
Two years after the arrest, Barger and four other Hells Angels were charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon after being arrested while driving through Redwood Regional Park by park rangers who discovered two bound, gagged and beaten club prospects in the trunk of the vehicle.
Barger was sentenced to a prison term of ten years to life after he was convicted of possession of narcotics for sale (37 grams of heroin), and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in 1973.
On March 27, 1978, Barger was arrested on a parole violation charge of possession of firearms when police officers discovered a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and a rifle after arriving at his home in Oakland.
The Hells Angels have a lot of crime and violence history.
Barger was later diagnosed with throat cancer because everyday, for 30 year he had smoked three packs of Camels. He had his vocal cords removed and learned to speak through a hole in his throat, which gave his voice an eerie rasp.
In 1998, Barger returned to Arizona, where he had previously served a prison sentence, with his third wife Beth Noel and stepdaughter Sarrah. He joined the Hells Angels’ Cave Creek chapter, and operated a motorcycle repair shop.
“I’ve lived a long and good life filled with adventure. And I’ve had the privilege to be part of an amazing club. Although I’ve had a public persona for decades, I’ve mostly enjoyed special time with my club brothers, my family, and close friends. Please know that I passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer. But also know that in the end, I was surrounded by what really matters: My wife, Zorana, as well as my loved ones. Keep your head up high, stay loyal, remain free, and always value honor.”
