Behind The Bikeriders, background to the Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer and Austin Butler film

John Hall, 2008

Well worth reading as a sixties comparison to Hunter S Thompson’s book, John Hall’s book about being a young tough and riding with the early Pagans MC is well written and feels as though it gives a real insight into the attractions and lifestyle of clubs at the time. I have heard some suggestions that it is more fictional than factual, and I have no way of knowing whether this allegation is right, but whatever the truth, to me, as a book, it certainly rings true and is well worth a read for anyone interested in the growth of the outlaw biker culture in the sixties.

Sonny Barger, 2001

Sonny Barger’s autobiography, a groundbreaking book in many ways given the ‘omerta’ approach that had been the rule up to this point for current club members. Hell’s Angel (with the apostrophe) is a very readable collection of snapshots and short descriptive pieces rather than a sustained narrative, which builds to give a strong impression of both Sonny’s life and how he sees the club having developed over the years.

Exile on Front Street George Christie, 2016

George Christie is now well established as an articulate speaker on the outlaw motorcycle club scene based on his thirty years in the club and leading role in managing the West Coast chapters of the Hells Angels. His autobiography covers the development of the club through biker wars, biker politics and biker parties and gives another perspective on the club and its development.

Edward Winterhalder, 2022

An updated version of Ed’s groundbreaking autobiography Out in Bad Standings written in 2005. While it was one thing for Sonny Barger, as elder statesman of the Hells Angels, to write an autobiography giving a positive view of the club, in my view, it was an entirely different and brave move for Ed to produce his book, which has elements of an exposé. Produced in very much a diary format, it has the strong advantage of intimacy and honesty, giving you a clear insight into the details of day-to-day life both in terms of his life as a biker and movingly the way he focused on looking after his daughter following the collapse of his first marriage, whilst also creating a highly successful construction business. For a clear insider’s account, this has to be on anyone’s reading list.

Tony Thompson, 2012

Tony Thompson is a highly respected journalist with a track record of successful books on the UK gangland and crime scene and his writing skills show here. This book is the biography of ex-Outlaws MC member Daniel ‘Snake Dog’ Boone, but through it, Thompson tells the wider story of the development of the UK outlaw biker scene since the eighties and how it has been affected by international biker politics up to and including the 2007 murder of Gerry Tobin. Thoroughly recommended and essential reading for anyone interested in the club scene in England.

Insight Editions, 2024

It doesn’t get much more meta than the photobook of the film of the photobook! Acclaimed photographer Byran Schutmaat, together with unit photographer Kyle Bono Kaplan and cinematographer Adam Stone have combined to create a classic book of behind-the-scenes ‘making of’ photography together with excerpts from the script, an introduction by director Jeff Nichols and contributions from the film’s director of photography, costume designer and production designer.