Motorcycle clubs.

[Stanley Edwards]

I find myself on Costa del Sol for the foreseable future. Small resort named Torrox which happens to be home to Two very large motorcycle clubs. I see huge potential for art, photography and a general recording/documenting of motorcycle club culture 2016.

The Fugitivos are lead by the VP of Hells Angels' Malaga chapter. The Banditos are the rival club (very friendly rivalry). Bandistos run the Ace of Spades bar where I seem to be spending much time, so I'm going to sketch more bikes, interview and ask difficult questions in a very easy way to record a photographic, art documentary sort of thread here.

If I have any skill more valuable than artistic skills, it is the way people seem to just open up to me in a very honest way. Could be very interesting. Working without laptop - reliant on internet cafes, so it will go slowly, but I have at least Five weeks.

Totally unpolished, warts and all account will come here. Very grateful for all feedback and ideas for investigation. Photos will appear from this weekend. This is going to be a fun one!

 

[DotCommunist]

just remember what happens to snitches

 

[ice-is-forming]

Ask their permission first.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Ask their permission first.

This. And expect to be told to fuck off. If so, don't ask again if you enjoy a quiet life.

 

[Pickman's model]

I find myself on Costa del Sol for the foreseable future. Small resort named Torrox which happens to be home to Two very large motorcycle clubs. I see huge potential for art, photography and a general recording/documenting of motorcycle club culture 2016.

The Fugitivos are lead by the VP of Hells Angels' Malaga chapter. The Bandistos are the rival club (very friendly rivalry). Bandistos run the Ace of Spades bar where I seem to be spending much time, so I'm going to sketch more bikes, interview and ask difficult questions in a very easy way to record a photographic, art documentary sort of thread here.

If I have any skill more valuable than artistic skills, it is the way people seem to just open up to me in a very honest way. Could be very interesting. Working without laptop - reliant on internet cafes, so it will go slowly, but I have at least Five weeks.

Totally unpolished, warts and all account will come here. Very grateful for all feedback and ideas for investigation. Photos will appear from this weekend. This is going to be a fun one!

before asking any difficult questions perhaps you should use the power of the internet to discover something more of the culture of motorcycle clubs. it's not all jolly japes, you know, there's some ultraviolence in there too.

 

[peterkro]

I was in Corfu several years ago and there was a party organised by the Angels,I seen and spoke to people from,LA,Norway,Sydney and several from Auckland (first chapter outside the US) and they where nice blokes (they where blokes no women as far as I could see).Serious organised gang.
By the way back in the day I was a patched member of the Antartic Angels,good name but not in my opinion as good as the Christchurch based Epitath Riders.
(and Berdoo)

E2a: Some of these people where genuine Facist's some where just adolescent rebels.My mate Handlebars stole a sheep and then killed it in a motel room I'd been a vegetarian for years before this,hence the graffiti "Handlebars is a sheep stealer" all over NZ including the Parliament building.They were my mates in adolescent's I've got to say some of them grew into very unpleasant adults.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Believe it, or not, I am not actually that naive. I'm not going to tell everyone where their coke comes from and where to buy it and all that stuff.

My thinking is to do full scale sketches of the bikes with words from the owners. Sort of motorcycle portraits with interviews.

Whilst there is undoubtedly a very rightwing vibe bordering on facism and sexism, not to mention racism (I am going to get all that stuff answered initially), there are also some good guys in there. Many just everyday sorts who share no more of a common interest onther than bikes. I suspect many are actually not as homophobic as they make out, and they do good fund raising events regularly.

I'm pretty sure it isn't all going to be bad vibes.

Anyway, I have the invitation, so why the fuck not?

 

[Pickman's model]

Believe it, or not, I am not actually that naive. I'm not going to tell everyone where their coke comes from and where to buy it and all that stuff.

My thinking is to do full scale sketches of the bikes with words from the owners. Sort of motorcycle portraits with interviews.

Whilst there is undoubtedly a very rightwing vibe bordering on facism and sexism, not to mention racism (I am going to get all that stuff answered initially), there are also some good guys in there. Many just everyday sorts who share no more of a common interest onther than bikes. I suspect many are actually not as homophobic as they make out, and they do good fund raising events regularly.

I'm pretty sure it isn't all going to be bad vibes.

Anyway, I have the invitation, so why the fuck not?

let's hope you come out of this with functioning knees, ankles, elbows and wrists.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

let's hope you come out of this with functioning knees, ankles, elbows and wrists.

And a badge

 

[Pickman's model]

And a badge

the badge would be the icing on the cake

 

[twentythreedom]

You'll be like Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider

 

[jakethesnake]

Hunter S Thomson got a beating from the HA after he wrote book about them, I think they wanted a cut of the royalties.

 

[Pickman's model]

You'll be like Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider

let's hope he doesn't end up like poor wyatt

 

[Voley]

Hunter S Thomson got a beating from the HA after he wrote book about them, I think they wanted a cut of the royalties.

That would be a relevant read, Stanley, if you've not already done so:

As with much of his stuff, it's about him as much as them and might give you an idea of how to best to approach this.

 

[Pickman's model]

yeh Stanley Edwards you should also watch all seven series of 'sons of anarchy' before you start asking this mc questions

 

[ice-is-forming]

Honestly Stanley, I think you may find that you're being quite naive actually.

 

[weltweit]

Stan, I have been known to take photos of normal bikers, sometimes with their bikes, but I would be wary of publishing them in any public way, and they are not gang members. I would be wary and pay attention to staying safe.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I am just sketching motorbikes and asking a few questions. Nothing too scary going on here. We are all people and I live in reality - not in the brains of Hollywood, or Hunter S Thompson.

Seems I only have a couple of weeks to work this, but I will most probably come back here. Call for work in Barcelona has changed my plans a little. Two weeks should be enough to get some interesting stuffs started, and return to it at the end of the summer season.

 

[Pickman's model]

I am just sketching motorbikes and asking a few questions. Nothing too scary going on here. We are all people and I live in reality - not in the brains of Hollywood, or Hunter S Thompson.

Seems I only have a couple of weeks to work this, but I will most probably come back here. Call for work in Barcelona has changed my plans a little. Two weeks should be enough to get some interesting stuffs started, and return to it at the end of the summer season.

tbh if you were to do that sort of thing in this country i wouldn't be surprised if you raised suspicions:

person with unusual and unverifiable job without any real checkable back story starts hanging round a potentially criminal gang and asking questions isn't a million miles away from person with unusual and unverifiable job without any real checkable back story starts hanging round with political activists and asking questions.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

tbh if you were to do that sort of thing in this country i wouldn't be surprised if you raised suspicions:

person with unusual and unverifiable job without any real checkable back story starts hanging round a potentially criminal gang...

I am quite well known in this part of the World. Plenty of credible history to check if they so wish to do so.

 

[Pickman's model]

I am quite well known in this part of the World. Plenty of credible history to check if they so wish to do so.

and i'm glad to hear it

 

[Saul Goodman]

Just shit on the seat of the president's bike

 

[Supine]

Stan asks the wrong question

 

[Pingu]

tbh pics and drawings of their bikes wil probably go down really well. most bikers are very proud of their bikes. offer to do a group shot/drawing for them to use in their clubhouse.

 

[Pingu]

I also would just pick one club and not both. both for political reasons and for the getting to know people one. respect their Chain of command and ask before doing stuff. most bike clubs tbh are fine provided you dont make a nuisance of yourself and dont take the piss.

 

[Pickman's model]

I also would just pick one club and not both. both for political reasons and for the getting to know people one. respect their Chain of command and ask before doing stuff. most bike clubs tbh are fine provided you dont make a nuisance of yourself and dont take the piss.

very good advice

 

[Gromit]

Have you ever been buried up to your neck in sand whilst the tide comes in?

Bye Stan, its been emotional.

 

[Pickman's model]

Have you ever been buried up to your neck in sand whilst the tide comes in?

Bye Stan, its been emotional.

who else have you got on the wrong side of?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Project on hold for the time being. I have to deal with new passport, police compensation, and money work. But, I will come back to this if for no other reason I am really getting into sketching chrome.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Still here. I was all set for a lift to Malaga to deal with all the shit I have to deal with, but...

Yesterday morning Señor 'S' owner of The Ace of Spades rock bar found me. He was all a panic and wanted to know if I knew anything about plumbing, or 'was I a handyman?'. Turns out the bar was flooding and he had lost the plot a little on his own skills. "No problem. You take yourself and your bike back to the bar and continue mopping whilst I source tools - see you in 20 minutes, or so". Ace of Spades is just a bar open to all. Señor 'S' is a member of the Banditos and the bar is partially funded by the club. Took just Five minutes to resolve the flooding issue. He was very grateful and invited me for drinks on the house in the evening.

I decided to decline the lift to Malaga and accept the drinks on the house. Day progressed and I bumped into Señor 'F' via our mutual acquaintance Señor 'O'. Señor 'O' is a very old friend I respect much, and the reason I came here initially. Señor 'F' invited me to use his place for a shower and a shave as I need to make myself respectable for a client meeting in Malaga. We ended up spending much of the day together visiting his favourite tapas bars etc. By night we watched Gangs of New York on his huge flat screen in his typically furnished pad - black leather corner seating, sexy lady painting, skull ornaments - all of that stuff. When Gangs of New York had finished I searched his German only TV system and found Michel Grondy Michel Gondry - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre He enjoyed it. I love the wonderful world of Michel Grondy, and it turns out so does Señor 'F'.

Later, myself and Señor 'O' went to Ace of Spades for whisky chaser last orders. Night ended at about 6AM. I was in no fit state to make plans this morning.

So far, I have received nothing but good vibes from all. All good eggs from different baskets. All doing thier best to help me find work (I'm on all their FB pages) and being incredibly hospitable. We get along very well. Now might be the time to introduce them to the idea of putting photos and pics on the web. Camera is charging.

Just about getting my head around the MC etiquette (thanks for pointers here publicly and from conversations). Señor 'F' is a long time member of Hells Angels. Señor 'S' is a member of the Banditos. Señor 'O' has no affiliation whatsoever, but mixes with all. Members of the Banditos and Fugitivos are not allowed to socialise within public circles, or their own clubs, but for charity events etc, it is considered respectful to visit each others events for a single drink and perhaps a donation. Hells Angels members are not welcome by either, but again, it is considered polite for HA members to turn up to events of other clubs and pay respect.

Photographs, sketches and interviews will come. Pretty sure these guys are only going to warm to me warmer. Having fun with a great bunch and spending time in some beautiful, unspoiled spots of Costa del Sol - they still exist.