When I received Bill Hayes’ email in mid-July announcing American Biker would be available in October, I put it on my must read list. I had met Bill in early 2004 when he offered my club the opportunity to contribute to his previous book, “The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club”. I got the nod to submit a brief history of the Gypsy Motorcycle Club, describing our roots as a family club in Tennessee and how we became an established motorcycle club (MC) in Corpus Christi, Texas. When the Wild Ones was published, my club bought close to a hundred copies and distributed them at our 2006 Mandatory, complete with a book signing with me, the contributor, and Hap Simerly, our International President. Our members were thrilled that we received a cameo in what has become a best seller within the MC community.
In the American Biker, the book, expands on film maker Randall Wilson’s 2005 documentary by the same name. The film is a near three-hour study of the history of motorcycles beginning before 1900 and the story of how the sport of motorcycling changed just after World War II. As Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it” and that’s exactly what happened. Motorcycle enthusiasts went one direction and the newly formed species, the American Biker, went in another … at that time, definitely a road less traveled! I just completed the book and also watched the documentary and I can enthusiastically recommend both to anybody, that’s ANYBODY, especially those who fancy themselves a part of the biker lifestyle.
Generally, the book is written first and the movie follows. The American Biker reverses that sequence and although video interviews are a great way to tell a story, Bill’s writing style makes a far more powerful statement. He accomplishes his goal of defining just what a biker is and how he/she has become such a visible part of American culture. What makes Bill’s writing so convincing is the perspective he brings to the subject and his ability to articulate a known sequence of events to the cultural outcome. He’s able to do this because he’s lived the biker lifestyle all his life. He’ rides, he wears a patch, he’s literate and he writes with the confidence of many years experience.
Most all of us have learned the basic lessons of how the biker culture evolved, i.e., Harley started producing bikes in 1903, riders were well-mannered and civilized until just after WWII when soldiers returning from war kept their adrenaline flowing by riding and partying a lot harder than their well mannered brethren. Groups of ex-soldiers formed clubs and rode to AMA sponsored Gypsy Tours to places like Hollister and Riverside where minor incidents turned into true milestones.
Then came Brando and dozens of biker exploitation movies. Easy Rider (the movie) attempted to change biker culture by turning the heros into prey instead of predators … to little, too late! Then came Altamont. The ’70s and the escalating war in Viet Nam destroyed what remained of our innocence. The brotherhood that post WWII clubs established was challenged in the mid-’70s when members of some of the clubs followed the lure of easy money. The clubs probably erred by tolerating criminal behavior within their own ranks. Heat came down on the clubs, the media sensationalized the criminal element and the whole biker mystique spun out of control. Outlaws have always been popular with the masses. When Harley-Davidson began selling factory customs that would instantly transform an average citizen into a bad ass, the potential of adding another American biker to the population increased with the sale of each new bike. The public doesn’t know whether to love us or fear us … so they do both. That’s the history lesson in a nutshell, but there’s a lot more to this story than just an event time-line. And that’s where Bill Hayes and the American Biker come to our rescue. His analysis of biker culture is akin to how Sigmund Freud redefined sexual desire as the primary motivational energy of human life. The average Biker Joe may not understand why he chooses his life path until Bill Hayes or Sigmund Freud explain it to him. Then it makes complete sense!
The American Biker is subtitled, “The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth” and Bill follows his subtitle through the journey that is his book. The evolution of the American Biker is defined in four distinct eras: Post WWII set the stage for the first phase, the 1950s and ‘60s, with the nationwide growth of clubs was phase two. The third phase, the Viet Nam war era reinforced and strengthened the first two phases. The fourth phase served to disseminate the biker legend through the awesome power of modern media (more movies, television and Internet). Unfortunately, there’s two versions of the legend … the first is sensationalized by the media and the badge, the second is the true version, told by one who’s walked the walk.
In the first section, the American Biker accurately describes the history of the motorcycle and how it evolved from its early years as a motor driven bicycle to a machine of substance and power. The second section explains the role that motorcycle clubs have played in the creation and maintenance of biker culture. Motorcycle Clubs contain the most passionate and committed segment of biker culture. Clubs and manufacturers form the backbone of MRO’s (motorcycle rights organizations) that take primary responsibility for the fight to maintain our freedom and our rights.
Bill writes about the conflict between clubs and the never-ending struggle that clubs have with law enforcement. Wearing a patch is the same as painting a target on your back … it makes you visible and subject to law enforcement scrutiny. Club members accept this scrutiny as part of their every day lives. Examples of the struggles between clubs and law enforcement are profiled in American Biker.
Bill’s story develops into a third section that describes how the biker culture became multi-racial and how women have earned their place in this special part of our society. There’s a chapter on politics and a tribute to many of the freedom fighters who have led the fight to preserve our rights. He talks about the major motorcycle events, not just Sturgis, Daytona and Laconia, but events like the Four Corners, Hollister and Laughlin where incidents have threatened to change the festive atmosphere by the addition of an overbearing presence of jack-booted Gestapo-minded public servants.
A picture is worth a thousand words and Bill’s study of the American Biker wouldn’t be complete without paying a tribute to the late and great David Mann. Dave’s images, beginning in 1971, graced the pages of Easyriders and other Paisano Publications for thirty years. David Mann was able to interpret what happens in an average day in the life of a biker in his portrayals.
The fourth topic, The Truth, permeates the entire book and is reinforced as Bill includes a vast number of resources to drive his thesis home. Notables including Retired Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Easyriders Editor Dave Nichols, Bikernet publisher Keith R. Ball, movie stars, club leaders and industry leaders make cameo appearances that increase the credibility of this fine work.
Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of American Biker. Sit down with it and allow it to draw you into a world that you may know or you may think you know. When you come out on the other end of the book, I guarantee you’ll have a perspective about the lifestyle that you didn’t have going in and you’ll be far better at explaining the lifestyle to those who are forever curious about why we do the things we do.
Raoul
Gypsy MC Houston
December 26, 2010
The two best links are www.BIKERTRUTH.com
AMERICAN BIKER by Bill Hayes
I received a copy of the new book “American Biker” from my friend Bill Hayes, the author. I want people to know that before I tell them how much I enjoyed the book.
I liked it because it tells it like it is and or was as it is about The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth and not because Bill and I are friends. I have read books by others I know and either did not comment on them or said I did not agree and stated the reason.
The information in this book came from many sources and I do know a lot of them. Some of the information I have first hand knowledge of. It is well put together and I Strongly Suggest that if you are interested in the History of Motorcycling you get a copy.
I have to state that there is one part of the book that I do not agree with and that is on page 293 where it says Lou Kimzey the founder of ABATE – A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments changed the name to A Brotherhood Aiming Towards Education. Lou Never Did That though some Chapters did it on their own.
I have brought this to Bill’s attention and he has agreed to change that in future printings of the book. This shows me and others that in fact he wants this publication to be in fact truth.
In all fairness to him and the publication he and others may have gotten that impression from a statement I made some years ago when being interviewed for Charlie Brechtel’s Bikers Inner Circle Show and I was Not Totally Clear when explaining the name was changed. I just said it was later changed I did not go into detail but then again I never said Lou Kimzey changed it either. This interview can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfZ30P4YJvU
I Know You Will Enjoy This Book As Much As I Did!
–ROGUE
Review: American Biker By Kevin Thomas
Author Bill Hays does a thorough job of exploring the mythos of what it means to be a biker in American Biker: The History, The Clubs, The Lifestyle, The Truth. He covers the road traveled by the American Biker from the first long distance riders to the movies that gave paved the way for the image of motorcycle riders of today to the motorcycle rally events that hundreds of thousands flock to from coast to coast. Along the way he covers the personalities and legends behind the events that propelled the American biker onto the front pages and more recently the television screens of middle America.
This is the most complete book ever exploring all aspects of the media coverage that has created and sustained the legend of the American Biker. From the truth about what really happened at Hollister and the myth created by Life magazine to the scene at the ill-fated concert at Altamont that was the death knell for the peace and love flower power era. He covers the women who made the cross country and coast to coast rides to the clubs that have been formed since the first two motorcycle enthusiasts got together to ride.
While admittedly not all inclusive, Bill Hays covers the clubs, the people, the bikes and the rides that have fueled and propagated the motorcycle culture and counterculture. In 411 pages he tries to answer that elusive question of what makes a biker, and what being a biker is all about while sorting out the place for RUB’s, newbies, LEO’s, OMC’s, women riders, sober riders, Christian riders, and the weekend warriors in the motorcycle culture. It may be impossible to sum up the definition of what makes a real biker in one paragraph but former Senator Bill Nighthorse Campbell makes a good try in the foreword:
…I am convinced that modern day bikers are kindred spirits to the adventurous Americans, from the mountain men era through the cowboy and Indian days. How else can one explain the similarity of dress, ornamentation, and the lifestyle that is so common?…
Bill tells the story of the American Biker in his own words and experience and with the help of dozens of interviews and essays, including Bikernet.com legends Bandit and Rogue. Also included are dozens of black and white photo’s and a bibliography of just about every motorcycle themed movie ever made, the best books and publications covering bikers and the music that us bikers love.
