How To Become A Hells Angel

Publish date: 2024-05-03

According to Yves Lavigne in his book, "Hell's Angels," it's not that you can't leave the Hells Angels once you're patched in; it's just that hardly anybody ever does, at least honorably. Those who are allowed to walk away for whatever reason may often keep their patches, although they must amend their Date Patched In tattoo to include the date they exited. Those who are kicked out are stripped of their patches, and depending upon the circumstance, might have their tats forcibly covered up and/or be beaten, run out of town, or worse.

George Christie, who as the founder of the Ventura chapter was a contemporary of Sonny Barger, was apparently one of the luckier ones. After doing time for being involved in firebombing some tattoo parlors, he decided to bolt from the Angels, tired as he was of the constant violent run-ins with law enforcement and other clubs. 

In an interview with Vice in 2016, he said, "Club members who I was friendly with after I left had their memberships in jeopardy if they communicated with me. When I left, it kind of reminded me of a divorce: At first, everyone wanted to be [amicable]. They weren't happy about my decision, but they understood it. As things progressed, it became aggressive, and it was hard to take."  

So if you think you're hardcore enough to become a full-patched member of the infamous Hells Angels, just remember their mottos (per Hot Cars): "Angels Forever, Forever Angels," and "When we do right, nobody remembers. When we do wrong, nobody forgets."

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