in this episode we talk about Outlaw motorcycle clubs that no longer exists we also talk about
the people that collect these biker cuts from the 60s the 70s the 80s what do you
think about that we get into it on this episode a demons Row TV and oh yeah we ghostin baby
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big shout to the ghosts and the ghostettes welcome to Demons Row TV the Holy Grail of
MC culture where we cover everything motorcycle and Motorcycle Club involved I'm sose the ghost
I'm your host for the evening and we continue to crack the code of the Matrix where are these clubs
from the past why do some of these people have possession of these Cuts I did a video called
fifteen one percent of clubs that no longer exist and three of the clubs in there still actually
exist and people said that they're still around it could be the same name but not the same exact Club
but if so how do some of these owners have these cuts of these clubs that still exists and it's
not an issue that's one thing that we're gonna get deeper into so it says accidental Mysteries
collected by famed artists and writer Jeff Decker Hells union motorcycle club Cuts as American
in folk art is an exhibition of the University of California Riverside Arts block that features
defunct motorcycle club Cuts or vests and they're assorted colorful Club colors or patches
that represent a unique form of American folk art embodying the freedom and non-conformity of bikers
Jeff Decker is a historian and artist famed for his bronze sculptures of vintage motorcycles he
grew up surrounded by the car culture of Southern California in the 80s Decker had the insight to
look at the cuts as American folk art rather than only as artifacts of mythologize Outlaw motorcycle
clubs as he said during the walk through at the exhibition's reception I don't look at the cuts
as anything clandestine to me it's folk art that has been ignored with this notion the cuts may be
viewed in the same context of Amish quilts that use their set of colors that emphasize solids
and simple compositions but find craftsmanship like an emcee president and a Founder their local
religious leaders approved colors too what do you think about his perspective on it being like an
art form and I do agree that MC culture is Art it is an art form and it is something that should be
glorified and a lot of people do glorify it but they only look at it as like Hell's Angels and
movies and and crimes that were committed how do you feel about the way some of these people
go about collecting the actual Club Cuts Like I feel like if it's a club that no longer exists
then it's kind of like making it a Hall of Fame there's other collectors that have cuts from clubs
that still exist and you know that right there is going to be a problem like I don't know where you
could go and do that type of stuff like clubs are not blessing you to do that Outlaw motorcycle club
that still exists is not blessing you to have one of their cuts on it and show it off to everybody
it says carrying colors began with the military the most familiar are the medieval European armies
in which standards were carried with a coat of arms up until industrial Warfare that began in the
20th century which allow for some distance from the enemy it was important to know the whereabouts
of one's regimen and how to keep formation when smoke and dirt were in the air much less the chaos
of charging and falling bodies its importance is underscore by the fact that experienced soldiers
of flag guards were assigned to its protection so to protect one's flag or an attempt to capture
an enemy's colors was both great feats of combat now more symbolic than tactical but for the same
reason it is why MCS go to such lamps to protect their colors in today's American culture in which
success and happiness are often defined by money their fears protection might also be viewed as
protecting one's brand akin to a cease and desist letter sent on the top-notch lawyer's letterhead
to perceive copyright infringer that's the part we probably talk about too is copyright infringement
like these clubs have copyrights to this stuff you know certain people have lawsuits on the table the
clubs are coming at them with lawsuits not on the street so it's it's crazy the way it is you
know it says the cuts off and defunct motorcycle clubs primarily so he keeps it real that it's
primarily not all of them you will not find the Hell's Angels cut this is due to the fact that
the colors or patches have to be earned no one can wear the colors unless they go through the
writer passage Decker says that in this respect Young Riders often question his motivations
mainly because he did not go through their various rights of passages in the clubs they represented
but according to Decker the older guys get what I'm doing in fact they often say maybe you will
tell the story right Deca fills the Hunter S Thompson was an excellent writer for example
when he publishes 1967 book Hells Angels the strange and terrible Saga of the Outlaw motorcycle
gang but he was still an outsider and then the Insiders were not the most articulate so there's
no well-written history yet at least this is DECA sentiment so what I think he's saying mostly
is true but there's nothing like the person that actually lived the lifestyle telling the story and
that's why it resonates that's why we're creating this community we have because it's authentic you
know you can't fabricate it Decker's collection focuses on cuts from the 1960s and 70s from
hearing them talk my sense is that the Visas are very connection to his childhood when his father
worked on cars and even having a chance to hang around custom culture car customize a god Ed big
daddy Roth and because there were so many films at the time that played on the fears of a small town
American Invasion whether it be aliens from outer space communist Russians or Lawless bike gangs I
think that perhaps Decker would like to rectify a bit of suburban fantasies of ancient Vikings
coming to pillage and rape as depicted in The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern so there's
a lot of people that looked and seen Outlaws and clubs riding by when they were kids so they have
that you know that Hollywood fantasy of them and they've always wanted to be a part of it but for
whatever reason never joined up as a collector Decker also seems attracted to the cut sleeve cuts
from the 60s and 70s because they are made from denim the cotton fabric was particular Lee app
for absorbing urine blood and dirt thus capturing a patina of authenticity and individuality late in
the 1980s MC started wearing leather jackets because in part they were easier to clean
according to Decker during the walkthrough at the opening reception for the exhibition someone asked
about the issues of preservation as some of the cuts were barely intact Jeff summed them up both
by the badge of honor sensibility with the stains and unintended preservation they're pretty pickled
already despite meeting a collector's desire for authenticity the more unwashed overly mended and
greasier the shoulders from hair the more to cut represented the wearer's long-term commitment for
the MC so let me know what you think about this in the comments is it time for MC Hall of Fame is
it time for MC Museum I think it has to be done by the culture itself like it has to be agreed
upon by all of us not just some dude that buys stuff from fed auctions or stuff like that I'm
not saying that this is what this dude did and if you've ever been around Outlaw motorcycle cycle
clubs and went to the clubhouse the clubhouse is like a museum but something broader with history
would be really dope maybe us as a community in this generation could spark something like
that you know I don't know because they look at MC's as gangs so I don't know if it will ever be
done it's possible anything is possible if you want to support the role get your Ghostaveli
Mask now they're on www.demonsrow.com I got another video where I talk about 15 Outlaw
motorcycle clubs that no longer exist it'll be linked above and thank you for tuning in to
Demons Road TV the Holy Grail of MC culture like subscribe and comment and oh yeah we ghostin baby
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