Ralph "Sonny" Barger
| Sonny Barger | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Ralph Hubert Barger October 8, 1938 Modesto, California |
| Occupation | Author |
| Known for | Founding member of Hells Angels, Oakland chapter |
| Website | sonnybarger |
Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger (born October 8, 1938) is a founding member (1957) of the Oakland, California, U.S. chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. He is also the author of five books - Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club (2000), Dead in 5 Heartbeats (2004), Freedom: Credos from the Road (2005), 6 Chambers, 1 Bullet (2006), and Let's Ride: Sonny Barger's Guide to Motorcycling (2010) - and editor of the book Ridin' High, Livin' Free: Hell-Raising Motorcycle Stories (2003). Onscreen, Barger was identified but didn't speak in Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) and was one of several members of the Angels who had speaking parts playing themselves in Hell's Angels '69 (1969); he has appeared in several additional films. He also appeared in the Sons of Anarchy television show as "Lenny "The Pimp" Janowitz"
Barger is a prominent figure in Hunter S. Thompson's book, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (1966). Barger and the Hells Angels are also depicted in Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968), during Ken Kesey's La Honda encampment. Barger was one of the Hells Angels present at The Rolling Stones' Altamont Free Concert in 1969, and appears in the documentary film about the concert; Gimme Shelter (1970).
In 1983, Barger was diagnosed with throat cancer, caused by years of heavy smoking. Consequently, his vocal cords were removed, and after a laryngectomy he has learned to vocalize using the muscles in his throat.
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