Hell on Wheels: An Illustrated History of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

Bill Hayes

04/2014 · Motorbooks

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A gripping history of outlaw motorcycle club culture from its beginnings to the present day. In a world where most of us roll over when confronted by the power of authority, the antihero figure of the outlaw biker stands beyond the crowd, a beacon of social freedom. By choosing to live outside of society’s conventions, the one-percenter has the inner strength to act on his own convictions. Though most of us are too timid to venture into these outer margins of society, the one-percenter not only enters those margins—he stomps on them. In Hell on Wheels, avid motorcyclist Bill Hayes dives deep into the world of the outlaw motorcyclist, exploring legendary clubs like the Hells Angels, the Bandidos, the Outlaws, the Vagos, the Pagans, the Mongols, and many others, allowing the reader to peer into motorcycle club culture. Featuring both modern and historical photos, as well as a rare collection of club memorabilia found in no other publication, Hell on Wheels traces the roots and development of motorcycle club culture: its origins in the years following World War II; the turbulent 1960s and the disco era; the transition of clubs from loose groups of hooligans to highly organized machines; and, more recently, the copious clashes with law enforcement amid the post-9/11 world of the Patriot Act. The one-percenter has become one of the most popular figures in outlaw culture, and Hell on Wheels is his story.

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Bill Hayes is one of those rare authors who abides by the age-old writing advice: "Write what you know." And for him, it works. His love for motorcycles--specifically the always-compelling biker culture--launched his writing success. His bestselling book, The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club, followed by American Biker (www.americanbikerthebook.com) and The One-Percenter Encyclopedia have all become classics within the genre. Hayes has served as the National Press and Publicity Officer for the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club (BFMC), continually striving to get the media to trade in their sensationalism for the truth.