The life of Sonny Barger, the founder of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, was full of turmoil, drug trafficking, conspiracy convictions, and murder accusations.
Barger was born in Modesto, California, in 1938 and grew up in Oakland, where he dropped out of school in the 10th grade and joined the army at the age of 16.
After being honorably discharged, he established the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels, becoming the organization’s impromptu leader.
Barger quickly became infamous for his tough-guy persona and run-ins with the law. He faced a slew of legal issues throughout his life, including drug charges, racketeering, and conspiracy.
Barger battled various cancers for a long time and died of liver cancer on June 29, 2022. Despite his controversial life, Barger left behind a legacy as the founder of one of the most notorious motorcycle clubs in history.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Sonny Barger founded the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels and became the organization’s impromptu leader.
- Barger faced a slew of legal issues throughout his life, including drug charges, racketeering, and conspiracy.
- Barger battled various cancers for a long time and died of liver cancer on June 29, 2022.
Early Life of Sonny Barger
Childhood
Sonny Barger was born on October 8, 1938, in Modesto, California. His mother abandoned him when he was only four months old, leaving his alcoholic father to raise him. The family later moved to Oakland when Barger was still a child.
Trouble at School
During his school years, Barger began to get into trouble. At one point, he was suspended after an altercation with a teacher.
Barger decided to drop out of school in the 10th grade and join the army.
Considering that he was only 16, he provided the army with a forged birth certificate.
Joining the Army
A year later, he was caught and honorably discharged.
In his autobiography, “Hell’s Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club,” he wrote that he established the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels not long after returning home.
Prior to this, Barger had joined his first motorcycle club in 1956. However, he opted to start his own as he felt no brotherhood in the group.
The Independent notes that Barger had formed the Oakland Hell’s Angels by 1957 and became the organization’s impromptu leader.
Founding of Hell’s Angels
Forming the Oakland Chapter
Sonny Barger, the founder of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, established the Oakland chapter of the group not long after returning home from the army.
Prior to this, Barger had joined his first motorcycle club in 1956. However, he opted to start his own as he felt no brotherhood in the group.
Barger formed the Oakland Hell’s Angels by 1957 and became the organization’s impromptu leader.
There were already Hell’s Angels chapters in other California cities, so Barger decided that it was best that each chapter of the group be affiliated with each other and function under the same rules.
Barger’s Leadership
Barger quickly became infamous for his tough guy persona and his run-ins with the law.
He was a controversial figure who was accused of promoting a lifestyle that was riddled with crime and debauchery.
Despite this, Barger was a charismatic leader who was able to bring together a group of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for motorcycles and the open road.
In his autobiography, “Hell’s Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club,” Barger wrote about his experiences leading the group.
He talked about the challenges he faced and the victories he achieved, including the establishment of the Oakland chapter and the affiliation of all the chapters under the same rules.
Barger’s leadership style was controversial, and some members of the group disagreed with his methods.
However, he was able to maintain his position as the leader of the Hell’s Angels for many years, and his legacy continues to live on even after his death.
Notoriety and Legal Issues
Crime and Debauchery Accusations
Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels have long been accused of promoting a lifestyle riddled with crime and debauchery.
Barger quickly became infamous for his tough-guy persona and his run-ins with the law.
In his autobiography, “Hell’s Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club,” he admitted to using and selling drugs, including heroin. However, he noted that these were his personal affairs and did not represent the rest of the Hell’s Angels.
Rolling Stones Concert Incident
One of the most notorious incidents involving Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels was the death of a man at a Rolling Stones concert held at the Altamonte Speedway in California in 1969.
The band hired the Hell’s Angels for security, but the group resorted to violence when they were unable to control disorderly fans.
Ultimately, this resulted in one Hell’s Angel stabbing a concertgoer to death.
When the Rolling Stones considered canceling the rest of their show, Barger reportedly pulled a gun on the group.
Drug Convictions
Barger faced a slew of legal issues throughout his life. In 1973, he was convicted on drug charges and sent to Folsom State Prison.
He was released in 1977. In 1987, Barger was arrested after an FBI raid found weapons and explosives.
After a 12-week trial, Barger and other Hell’s Angels members were found guilty of conspiracy. Prosecutors argued that they were planning an act of retribution in Louisville, Kentucky.
Barger was also convicted of stealing a government manual.
Despite his conviction, he told the Associated Press, “I think it was a devastating blow to the government, and I couldn’t be happier with the verdict, except if I had been found innocent myself.”
RICO Act Conviction
In 1979, Barger was charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
He was acquitted.
However, Barger undoubtedly abetted the Hell’s Angels with the creation of a booming drug business.
Barger and other members were heavy drug users themselves. In “Angels of Death: Inside the Biker Gang’s Crime Empire,” Julian Sher and William Marsden write that Barger spent 59 months in prison in Phoenix, Arizona, and was released in 1992.
Barger’s Battle with Cancer
Throat Cancer
Sonny Barger battled with various cancers for a long time. In 1982, he was first diagnosed with throat cancer.
According to The Daily Mail, he had to have his vocal cords removed, which resulted in a rough and growly voice.
A hole was made in his throat to allow him to speak. It’s believed that his throat cancer stemmed from Barger smoking three packs of Camel cigarettes daily for 30 years.
Prostate Cancer
In 2010, Barger was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He recovered after his prostate was removed. According to US Magazine, Barger had been battling various cancers for a long time. He died of liver cancer on June 29, 2022.
Despite his health issues, Barger remained active in his later years. Besides being a Hell’s Angel, he was also an actor and starred in a few episodes of Sons of Anarchy. Additionally, Barger wrote several books about his life and adventures with the Hell’s Angels.
Legacy
Acting Career
Aside from his involvement in the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club, Sonny Barger also had a brief career in acting.
He starred in a few episodes of the popular TV series Sons of Anarchy, which was loosely based on the Hell’s Angels.
Barger played the role of Lenny “The Pimp” Janowitz, a former member of the Hell’s Angels who later becomes a friend and advisor to the main character, Jax Teller.
Although Barger’s acting career was brief, it added another dimension to his already colorful life.
Books Written
Sonny Barger was also an author and wrote several books about his life and adventures with the Hell’s Angels. His most famous book is his autobiography, Hell’s Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club.
In this book, he describes his early life, his involvement with the Hell’s Angels, and his run-ins with the law. He also wrote other books, including Freedom: Credos from the Road and Let’s Ride: Sonny Barger’s Guide to Motorcycling.
Goodbye Message on Facebook
Before his death, Sonny Barger released a goodbye message on his Facebook page. The message read, “Keep your head up high, stay loyal, remain free, and always value honor.”
This message reflects Barger’s commitment to the values of the Hell’s Angels, which include loyalty, brotherhood, and honor.
It also shows that Barger remained committed to these values until the end of his life.
The message was a fitting tribute to a man who lived his life on his own terms and remained true to his beliefs until the very end.
