Friday 6 March 2009

"Hells Angels" by Hunter S. Thompson.

The Times, August last year.
“Returning from the Bulldog Bash Bikers fest’, Gerry Tobin, Canadian Biker in his 30's , is shot dead on the M20.” At a glimpse on the patch sewed on his jacket, a black-denim which the sleeves have been ripped off, we recognise his affiliation to a well-known motorcycle group called “Hell’s Angels”.

“I’m born in a desert, raised in a Lion’s den...”
- Grateful dead, New Minglewood Blues -

Starting like a “scritch” throughout Eisenhower’s presidency, “Hell’s angels” tells the story of one of the most notorious gang of outlaws overflowing the USA. Going through newspapers quotes and sciological reports, this close study of the hoodlums, confronts the media’s favourite game and real experience. Using his most successful Gonzo skill, H. Thompson gives us the whole report of what was going to be the biggest publicized gang in America.

The statement begin in San Bernardino, California, where the first charter was created in 1950. Counting a few dedicated bikers, it is needless to say that they had build their reputation by collecting police records. Felonies and burglaries were the most common acts, but some of them could go for sexual harassment and gang rape.
As they would deny these last accusations, the police and the media aimed accurately to distort the related facts, trying to eradicate the new raising movement. But it didn’t last long and soon enough, the “making of a menace” had been given up. Swinging fist through the media persecution that had been created, the rush for idolization had inevitably been triggered and followed meticulously by the most famous magazines at that time.

From false accusations to worship, Hunter S. Thompson had succeded to bring us the first feature of his carreer. Chasing the Angel’s all along the sixties, he had completed his induction into the group which “respected” him like one of them. Keeping in mind his duty as a Gonzo journalist, the eloquent scoop will keep you into it as if you were sharing their own booze. Described as the book which made “Thompson’s name”, this story of sex, drugs and rock n’roll could make you reconsider most your valuable belongings.

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