Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger shared heartbreaking message with fans he prepped before death from cancer aged 83
HELLS Angels' Sonny Barger prepared a heartbreaking message for his fans before he passed away at the age of 83.
Sonny Barger, a founding member of the infamous biker group Hells Angels, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 29.
The California biker' final reads: "If you are reading this message you'll know that I'm gone. I’ve asked that this note be posted immediately after my passing.
"I’ve lived a long and good life filled with adventure. And I’ve had the privilege to be part of an amazing club.
"Although I’ve had a public persona for decades, I’ve mostly enjoyed special time with my club brothers, my family, and close friends.
"Please know that I passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer."
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His saddening post concluded: "But also know that in the end, I was surrounded by what really matters: My wife, Zorana, as well as my loved ones.
"Keep your head up high, stay loyal, remain free, and always value honor."
Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger, who was born in Modesto, California on October 8, 1938, suffered from cancer since the early 1980s.
In 1983, he had a total laryngectomy, removing his vocal cords due to stage three laryngeal cancer - he learned to vocalize using his oesophagus afterward.
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Years later, in 2012, the Hells Angel underwent another surgery to remove his prostate and was declared cancer-free.
On June 30, 2022, Sonny's Facebook post announced his passing.
About 15 weeks before his passing, Sonny was taking to Instagram to promote a Hells Angels Oakland 65th Anniversary event.
The event took place at the legendary in California.
Earlier this month, Sonny announced the release of his friend's new children's book.
"Thanks to everyone who purchased, then gave a cool review of, The Sonny Barger Productions 'Lil’ Bike Crew Anniversary Edition' written by my wife, Zorana, and good friend, Candy Chand," he wrote in a .
"All 4 'Lil’Bike Crew' stories together in one collectible hardback."
Two years before his death, Sonny shared one of his quotes on Twitter alongside an updated photo of himself.
The tweet read: "'Try to remember the reason you started riding a motorcycle in the first place. For me, it was a couple of things but mostly rebellion,' Sonny Barger."
Hells Angels founded in 1948
By the late 1950s, Sonny had already joined a motorcycle club named the Oakland Panthers, which then disbanded.
He began riding with a group of bikers, one of whom wore a patch from a defunct club in North Sacramento and went on to form the Oakland charter of Hells Angels Motorcycling Club (HAMC) in 1957.
Hells Angels was founded in Fontana, California, back in 1948 - with more charters being added during the fifties.
Charters across California were merged and used variations of the "death's head" insignia before standardizing under the patch nicknamed the "Barger Larger".
Throughout his time with HAMC, Sonny served as president of the Oakland and was often the public face of the group.
There is no overall president of the group but the Oakland faction is often seen as the headquarters and mother charter due to Sonny's efforts.
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Hells Angels became a global phenomenon in the sixties with the first charter based outside California opening in New Zealand in 1961.
It then began to spread across the US and worldwide, with the first European charter opening in London, England, in 1969.
