Sonny Barger stands as one of the longest-serving figures in the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. For decades he has been a recognizable emblem of the organization’s presence worldwide. Originating in California as an outlaw motorcycle group, the HAMC expanded to authorized divisions across the globe, including Barcelona, a development linked to the main club’s recognition of new chapters. Barger passed away at age 83, a fact confirmed through his official Facebook profile.
The Expendables trace their roots to 1948 in Fontana, California, emerging from a blend of several riding clubs. The group’s lore speaks of returning World War II veterans seeking a rugged expression of the American way of life. This romanticized origin helps explain the Expendables’ enduring image: leather vests, winged skull insignias, and a ferocious presence as they rode America’s highways. For years they were seen as a bold sign of counterculture, a banner that would later intersect with criminal activity in the public eye.
Ralph Hubert Barger, born in 1938, became a foundational member of the Hells Angels and helped establish the pioneering Oakland chapter in California. A short message was posted on Barger’s social media profile after his death: “If you’re reading this message, you’ll know I’m gone… Please know that I passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer.” He added that despite decades in the public eye, he spent much of his private time with his siblings, family, and closest club associates.
spokesman
With the club’s authorized branches expanding in the United States amid ongoing controversy surrounding the group, many allegations were directed at their activities. Barger often served as a de facto spokesperson, presenting the club as a lifestyle that operated outside conventional law and order while defending its members and their way of life.
He was present at the Altamont Free Concert, a landmark event organized by the Rolling Stones in 1969, where the Hells Angels served as the security force. The event is remembered for the violent incident involving Meredith Hunter, a moment that cast a long shadow over the band and the crowd. The Expendables and the broader biker culture had already entered popular culture through films such as 1967’s Hells Angels on Wheels, which featured Jack Nicholson, and Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga published in 1966. Thompson’s reportage documented the tension between journalists and riders, highlighting the friction over access and money in creative coverage.
Role in Sons of Anarchy
Legal troubles plagued Barger, including charges related to carrying and using firearms. His life also intersected with a 1988 conviction linked to conspiracy involving rival gang members, resulting in significant prison time. These incidents colored public perception of his role within the Hells Angels and the broader narrative about organized motorcycling clubs in America.