Ride to die: masculine honour and collective identity in the motorcycle underworld
| Pages | 238-252 |
| Published date | 03 December 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-05-2018-0017 |
| Date | 03 December 2018 |
| Author | Mohammed Rahman,Adam Lynes |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Ride to die: masculine honour
and collective identity in the
motorcycle underworld
Mohammed Rahman and Adam Lynes
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature and extent of violent practice in the motorcycle
underworld. It does this by considering the murder of Gerry Tobin, and then uses the biography of the
founding member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club (HAMC) for a critical analysis. The authors are
interested in understanding the role of masculinehonour and collective identity, and its influences in relation to
violence –namely, fatal violence in the motorcycle underworld. The authors argue that motorcycle gangs are
extreme examples of what Hall (2012) considers “criminal undertakers”–individuals who take “special
liberties”often as a last resort.
Design/methodology/approach –The methodological approach seeks to analyse the paradigm of
“masculine honour”, and how the Outlaws MC (OMC) applied this notion when executing the seemingly
senseless murder of Gerry Tobin. So too, the author triangulate these findings by critically analysing the
biography of the founding member of the Californian chapter of the HAMC –Sonny Barger. Further to this, a
case study inevitably offers “constraints and opportunities”(Easton, 2010, p. 119). Through the process of
triangulation, which is a method that utilises “multiple sources of data”, the researcher can be confident that
the truth is being “conveyed as truthfully as possible”(Merriam, 1995, p. 54).
Findings –What is clear within the OB worldview is that it can only be a male dominant ideology, with no
allowance for female interference ( Wolf, 2008). Thus, Messerschmidt’s (1993) notionof “hegemonic ma sculinity”
fits themale dominated subcultures of the HAMCand OMC, which thereforeprovides the clubswith “exclusive”
masculineidentities (Wolf, 2008). Fororganisations likethe HAMC, retaliationis perceived as analternative form
of criminal justice that is compulsory to undertake in order to defendtheir status of honour and masculinity.
Originality/value –Based on our understanding, this is the first critical think piece that explores a UK case
of homicide within the context of the motorcycle underworld. It also provides a comprehensive understanding
of violent practice with the motorcycle underworld from criminological and sociological perspectives.
This paper will inform readers about an overlooked and under researched underworld culture.
Keywords Violence, UK, Organized crime, Collective identity, Hell’s angels, Masculine honour
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
12 August 2017 marked the ten-year death anniversary of Gerry Tobin. Gerry, a member of the
Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC), was travelling down the M40 motorway after returning
from a Hell’s Angels annual event when a green car pulled alongside him and fired multiple shots
(Campbell and Balakrishnan, 2008). Gerry died immediately at the scene. This paper critically
analyses Gerry’s death with significant attention to masculine honour, collective identity and
violent practice in the motorcycle underworld.
Organised crime and contract murder
Organised crime research in the UK draws towards the consensus that the phenomenon is
sustained by collusion, corruption and complacency, which makes it difficult to excavate facts
Received 16 May 2018
Revised 22 July 2018
Accepted 1 October 2018
Mohammed Rahman is Senior
Lecturer in Criminology at
Nottingham Trent University,
Nottingham, UK.
Adam Lynes is Senior Lecturer
at Birmingham City University,
Birmingham, UK.
PAGE238
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH,POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 4 NO. 4 2018, pp.238-252, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-05-2018-0017
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