Greasy Books

If you're interested in choppers, rods, outlaw and kustom kulture, there are a number
of publications vying for your hard-earned cash.
Here are my thoughts on some of the books I've spent my dollars on.

The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon – this is the latest edition of this fine book (see review further down) which now includes more images and colour shots. Superb.
Street Justice by Chuck Zito is an autobiography by one of the most famous American Hells Angels. It follows Chuck's progress from NY Golden Gloves boxer, to custom bike builder, to movies stars' bodyguard, to actor. An interesting story – and there's even the true story behind his fight in a restaurant with Jean-Claude Van Damme!
I was a killer for the Hells Angels by Pierre Martineau is more about crime than bikers, but is a good trashy read. Martineau was an associate of the gang in Canada, and this is similar in content and tone to the many books by Yves Lavigne (see below).
'ONE PERCENT' is a book of photographs of the modern-day Outlaws MC. I personally didn't find it any more illuminating than your average outlaw bike magazine, and many of the shots seem strangely static. You sense that the photographer remained an outsider to the gang. Danny Lyon's book is better.
Chopped Harleys – 50 Years of Rebellious Motorcycles by John Carroll and Garry Stuart is a fairly comprehensive look at how choppers evolved from those first bobbed racing machines of the 1930s. John (better known as 'Caz') Carroll used to write for UK mag BSH, and his slightly English school-essayish style mixed with deliberate panderings to the American market (ain't, catalogs, colors) grated a bit with me, but it's all informative stuff. But if you're into choppers anyway, none of this book will be a revelation. The pictures are great, but if you are a regular reader of UK bike mags a lot of the bikes will be familiar.
Hot Rod Memorabilia & Collectibles by David Fetherston is a cool little book covering every artefact you can imagine being associated with hot-rodding, from the Roth Revell models to car club plaques. I love this kind of book – great pictures (e.g. Von Dutch's own spray gun, engraved with his 'flying eye'), and crammed with trivia (did you know 'Rod and Custom' magazine was called 'Rods and Customs' for one issue only – its first?). It's written in a casual, humorous style. Recommended.

"Harley-Davidson Photographic History – Archive, Racing, Folklore by Wolfgang Wiesner". I've got lots of books about Harleys, but I like this one for its acceptance of the outlaw influence on Harleys' styling, and the fact that Wolfgang Wiesner had rare access to the factory archives. There are great pictures here, from old F-heads to outlaw bike clubs, and well-informed text covering every model and era. Especially good coverage of competition.
Mike Seate, for better or worse, used to write for the fine bike rag 'Iron Horse'. And he was kind enough to send me a copy of his book on biker flicks. I like nothing better than a crap biker movie (I have lots on video) and this book gives you the lowdown of who starred in what, when. It even features 'Psychomania', surely the best biker film ever made (George Sanders, one of its stars, committed suicide shortly after making it). There are some great pics of film posters/stills, and it's an enlightening read: the only things that let it down are the cheesy cheapo cover and the cheapo stock it's printed on.
This is a great book. It gives you a look at the first 12 issues of 'Hop Up' magazine, which was a pioneering hot rod mag in the 40s/50s. There are some great 'how to' features, and it will give all you retro rod buffs a chance to see what speed components were used back in the day. The index tells you all you need to know, with entries for George and Sam Barris, Clay Smith, Mickey Thompson ...
"Customized: Art inspired by Hot Rods, Low Riders and American Car Culture" is a 'coffee table' or glossy 'art' book. It's expensive (thanks Jason!) and offers a sometimes over-intellectualised view of kustom art and artists. The info and big pics it contains are fabulous, though. There are separate sections on people like Von Dutch, Ed Roth, Robert Williams and Coop, but so far I've only looked at the photos!
"The Brotherhoods" is another 'insight' into the world of outlaw bike clubs. What makes it different – and gives it interest – is its focus on Australian clubs. The author hasn't ridden with any clubs but – weirdly – was present at the Hells Angels' Monterey rape incident when he was a lad, as well as the anti-Vietnam demos in the 60s (when the Angels beat the demonstrators). Some interesting facts, but too many anonymous quotes and a couple of inaccuracies (bikers aren't called 'bikies' in the UK, Arthur.)
Harley-Davidson, 1930-1941 is totally engrossing if you're interested in the early history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Herbert Wagner's pictorial history features hundreds of amazing photos from the personal collections of the riders' families featured .... club runs, bobbed knuckleheads and racing flatties. And the text is equally fascinating, with personal testimonials from men and women who were pre-war pioneers. There are stories from Harley factory testers, who took prototypes through snow, rivers and miles of country so new models could be developed.
Thoroughly recommended.
The Bikeriders, at last re-printed in its original 1960s format, is simply essential reading if you're interested in custom motorcycles and their kulture. Danny Lyon's stunning photographs documenting the early days of The Outlaws MC, which he rode with in the early sixties, remain the finest insight into bike gangs – and bikes – ever produced. Both the photos (some of them famous, like 'Crossing the Ohio River') and the frank interviews with members make this a great book. In fact, anything by Danny Lyon is worth picking up ... he's one of America's finest documentary photographers. (See top for new edition).
European Choppers by ex-Iron Horse magazine contributor Grizzly Beerepoot takes a look at some of the finest choppers and bobbers to come out of Europe in recent years. I perosnally think the Scandinavians build the nicest looking bikes on the planet at the moment, so I often flick through this for inspiration. One question, though: why do Europeans favour wearing plimsolls on their choppers? Can't be safe.
Brooklyn Gang, another photography book, documents the activities of a Brooklyn street gang duringthe summer of 1959. Some of Bruce Davidson's photographs hve become iconic (especially the classic series of shots at Coney Island), but this is a fantastic look at the original greasers, with some poignant text, too.
The Rebels isn't fiction ... it's a detailed look at how an outlaw bike club functions, from someone who knows. Daniel Wolf rode with Canadian club The Rebels for many years, and put his experiences down on paper. He became a sociologist and it shows ... the action is sometimes held up by too much navel-gazing, but a right riveting read nevertheless.
Bikers is another book by someone who knew his onions. Maz Harris wasn't just an entertaining writer, Doctor and ex-editor of the UK's now defunct (but sadly missed) Harley mag Heavy Duty – he was also a long-serving member of the Kent chapter of the Hells Angels MC. He was sadly killed in a motorcycle accident in June 2000. This is basically a photo history of people like us ... from the 1950s rockers to the present. Well, not quite present, because this book's outta print ... but can be found second-hand.
If you haven't read this yet, why are you on this site? Hunter S. Thompson gets in with Sonny Barger and the Oakland Hells Angels, then gets stomped by them. This is a fascinating, factual account of the Angels' activities in the early '60s ... and separates the fact from the fiction rather well.
Yves Lavigne is the scourge of the Hells Angels. This is one of three books he's written about the club (is it his mission to upset them?), and it makes gruesome reading. An amazing contrast with Thompson's book, this portrays the club in a far more sinister light. Is it accurate or hyped-up sensationalism? You decide.
What do you mean you haven't owned a Harley-Davidson? If you've watched 'The Loveless' and you now wanna be Willem Defoe but you don't know where to buy yer wheels, Alan Girdler's book is still the definitive buyer's guide to what's what and what you should pay for it.
Sonny Barger, 'Ultimate Leader' of the Hells Angels, has had his autobiography in the best-seller lists in the UK. And no wonder – it's a rollicking, often shocking account of his life and his pivotal role in the development of the world's most famous bike club. The photos are what stood out for me, though. There are great shots of Sonny on chopped Harleys in the '50s, sporting a pompadour and engineer boots ... the absolute definition of 'cool'. A good read.
I found Yves Lavigne's latest book so dull that I haven't even managed to finish it. It basically regurgitates police files on battles between rival bike clubs both in the USA and Europe, with unending facts and figures concerning numbers injured, weapons used etc. He also repeats some stuff about the organisation of outlaw clubs that has appeared in his other books. Yves Lavigne obviously believes outlaw bikers, and particularly the Hells Angels, are the most evil force on earth. The book subsequently comes across as a mish-mash – biased, vitriolic and boring.