It is not easy to become a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. You must have the right personality, know the right people and basically want to live on your motorcycle. Even then, the initiation process may take years, if you even make it that far. To get started, you need a valid motorcycle license, own a Harley Davidson motorcycle over 750 CC, although sometimes other American motorcycles may be accepted, and have a personality that fits the club profile.
Your past cannot include accusations of child molestation or applications to become a police officer or prison guard. There are more than likely other requirements, but they are not known to the public.
Going Global
The Hells Angels may have started out just in California, but by 1961 they were going global. The very first charter which opened outside the US was in Auckland, New Zealand. After that, the motorcycle club began popping up all over the world. The first European charter opened in London in 1969.
These days, Europe alone houses over 275 charters. Since the ’70s, charters have been founded in Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Eastern Europe, and more. The club is always on the lookout for new areas for expansion.
The Dress Code
Hells Angels are not shy about their membership in the club and make sure people know about it. Members almost always wear a leather or denim “cut”, which is their lingo for a motorcycle vest. The cut features different patches, many of which have Hells Angels written on the back plus the name of their local charter on the bottom.
If the cut belongs to a full-fledged member, it will also feature the red and white-winged “death head” logo, the letters HAMC (Hells Angels Motorcycle Club) and the number 81. The 81 represents the letters H and A. H being the eighth letter of the alphabet and A being the first. A member may earn other patches during his time in the club.
Hanging Around
When a candidate has been deemed acceptable, the next step in the process is to become a “hang around.” That means that the prospective member is allowed to come to some of the club meetings or join other club members at open social gatherings.
A hang-around gets the chance to meet and connect with other members, but also and maybe more importantly, to get a glimpse into the Hells Angels lifestyle and what it means to be a part of it.
Becoming a Prospect
After a while, if the hang-around still wants to join the club, he may be asked to become an associate. That means a year or two more of attending club events, hanging out with members and generally showing that they have what it takes. An indeterminate amount of time after that, the associate can be reclassified as a prospect.
While prospects are allowed to attend closed meetings, they still don’t have the right to vote on club business. During their time as prospects, candidates are still being evaluated by other members for their suitability to become a fully patched club member. Prospects at least get to wear a cut with a patch featuring the state or territory of their charter.