Sonny Barger was an American outlaw biker and famous actor. His former lawyer, Fritz Clapp, confirmed Barger died of liver cancer on June 29th.
Mr. Barger was the founder of the original Oakland, California, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club branch, and he was also the face of a counterculture tribe of outlaw bikers. Barger often appeared on television and films playing bikers.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was infamous for their machismo, tattoos, alcohol, drugs, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Barger urged people to “discover your limits by exceeding them.”
However, the motorcycle club wasn’t only infamous for their branding, they were also infamous for the crimes they committed. In 1988, Barger was convicted of conspiracy to kill members of a rival club and blow up their headquarters. He served 5 years in federal prison for the crime.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was infamous for more than just Sonny Barger. In 1969, while the motorcycle club was providing security for a Rolling Stones concert, an armed 18-year-old concert goer was stabbed to death by a Hells Angel.
The Club was also infamous for their drugs. Mr. Barger was a confessed cocaine addict, and he often sold heroin to support his lifestyle. In the 1960s and 70s, Barger served a total of 8 years for drug and firearm charges.
Everyone knew of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, and they became the star of many movies including “Hells Angels on Wheels” which depicted them as a gang of rowdy bikers that don’t follow the law. Mr. Barger either acted or assisted with many of the same movies.
The motorcycle club also used its branding to help promote products with their logos and designs. Mr. Barger sold Hells Angels-themed T-shirts, yo-yos, sunglasses, and wine. He also authored many books, which detailed his experiences with the biker world.
In 1982, his health took a turn for the worse. He was diagnosed with lung cancer from his habit of smoking cigarettes, and Barger had to have his vocal cords removed to cure the cancer.
He was later diagnosed with liver cancer, which would eventually take his life. Sonny Barger had a unique life, his nonconformist philosophy gave him experiences that many people will never have. In his autobiography, Barger wrote, “To become a real man, you need to join the army first and then do some time in jail.”
Link to Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/06/30/sonny-barger-hells-angels-dead/
Mr. Barger was the founder of the original Oakland, California, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club branch, and he was also the face of a counterculture tribe of outlaw bikers. Barger often appeared on television and films playing bikers.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was infamous for their machismo, tattoos, alcohol, drugs, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Barger urged people to “discover your limits by exceeding them.”
However, the motorcycle club wasn’t only infamous for their branding, they were also infamous for the crimes they committed. In 1988, Barger was convicted of conspiracy to kill members of a rival club and blow up their headquarters. He served 5 years in federal prison for the crime.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was infamous for more than just Sonny Barger. In 1969, while the motorcycle club was providing security for a Rolling Stones concert, an armed 18-year-old concert goer was stabbed to death by a Hells Angel.
The Club was also infamous for their drugs. Mr. Barger was a confessed cocaine addict, and he often sold heroin to support his lifestyle. In the 1960s and 70s, Barger served a total of 8 years for drug and firearm charges.
Everyone knew of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, and they became the star of many movies including “Hells Angels on Wheels” which depicted them as a gang of rowdy bikers that don’t follow the law. Mr. Barger either acted or assisted with many of the same movies.
The motorcycle club also used its branding to help promote products with their logos and designs. Mr. Barger sold Hells Angels-themed T-shirts, yo-yos, sunglasses, and wine. He also authored many books, which detailed his experiences with the biker world.
In 1982, his health took a turn for the worse. He was diagnosed with lung cancer from his habit of smoking cigarettes, and Barger had to have his vocal cords removed to cure the cancer.
He was later diagnosed with liver cancer, which would eventually take his life. Sonny Barger had a unique life, his nonconformist philosophy gave him experiences that many people will never have. In his autobiography, Barger wrote, “To become a real man, you need to join the army first and then do some time in jail.”
Link to Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/06/30/sonny-barger-hells-angels-dead/
