Sonny Barger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger (born October 8, 1938 in Modesto, California) is a founding member (1957) of the Oakland, California, U.S. chapter of Hells Angels.
Barger was one of the Hells Angels present at the The Rolling Stones' Altamont Free Concert in 1969. He is also famous for his appearance in Hunter S. Thompson's widely read account of life within the club, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
Sonny Barger is also the author of four books: Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club, Freedom: Credos from the Road, Dead in 5 Heartbeats and 6 Chambers, 1 Bullet. He was editor for the book Ridin' High, Livin' Free. Barger has appeared as an extra in the films Hells Angels on Wheels and Hell's Angels '69.
In 1983, Barger was diagnosed with throat cancer, caused by years of heavy smoking. As a result, his vocal cords were removed and subsequently as a laryngectomee he has learned to vocalize using the muscles in his throat.
In 1988, Barger was sentenced for conspiring to blow up the clubhouse of a rival motorcycle club, the Outlaws in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent 4 years in federal prison in Arizona.
As of 2007, Barger is still an active member of the Hells Angels in the Cave Creek Chapter (Phoenix, Arizona), having moved there from Oakland in 1998. He is reported to have owned 10 to 12 motorcycles throughout his life, and currently rides a Harley Davidson.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
[edit] Further reading
- Ralph "Sonny" Barger, Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. Morrow, William & Co., May 2000 (ISBN 0-688-17693-3); reissued in paperback, HarperCollins Publishers, October 2001 (ISBN 0-06-093754-8)
