Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger shared a heartbreaking message to fans he died of cancer at the age of 83

Hells Angels’ Sonny Barger prepared a heartbreaking message for his fans before he died at the age of 83.

Sonny Barger, a founding member of the notorious biker group Hells Angels, died peacefully on June 29 surrounded by his family.

5

5

The California biker’s latest Facebook post reads: “If you’re reading this message, you’ll know I’m gone. I have requested that this note be posted immediately after my death.

“I have lived a long and good life full of adventures. And I’ve had the privilege of being part of a great club.

“Although I have had a public role for decades, what I have most enjoyed is the special time I have with my club brothers, family and close friends.

“Please know that I passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer.”

His sad post ended with: “But do you also know that I ended up surrounded by what really matters: my wife Zorana as well as my loved ones.

“Cheer up, stay loyal, stay free and always cherish honor.”

Ralph Hubert “Sonny” Barger, who was born on October 8, 1938 in Modesto, California, had been battling cancer since the early 1980s.

In 1983 he had a total laryngectomy, which removed his vocal cords due to stage three throat cancer – after which he learned to vocalize with his esophagus.

Years later, in 2012, the Hells Angel underwent another operation to remove his prostate and was declared cancer-free.

On June 30, 2022, Sonny’s Facebook post announced his death.

About 15 weeks before his death, Sonny took to Instagram to promote a Hells Angels Oakland 65th Anniversary event.

The event took place at the legendary Oakland Clubhouse in California.

Earlier this month, Sonny announced the release of his friend’s new children’s book.

“Thanks to everyone who bought Sonny Barger Productions’ ‘Lil’ Bike Crew Anniversary Edition’ and then left a cool review written by my wife Zorana and my good friend Candy Chand,” he wrote in a Facebook post .

“All 4 ‘Lil’Bike Crew’ stories together in one collector’s hardcover.”

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 few things, but mostly ‘Rebellion’, Sonny Barger.”

Hell’s Angels was founded in 1948

By the late 1950s, Sonny had already joined a motorcycle club called the Oakland Panthers, which then disbanded.

He began riding with a group of bikers, one wearing a patch from a defunct North Sacramento club, and formed the Oakland Charter of Hells Angels Motorcycling Club (HAMC) in 1957.

Hells Angels was founded in Fontana, California, in 1948 – more charters were added in the 1950s.

Charters across California merged and used variations on the “Skull” insignia before being standardized under the patch nicknamed the “Barger Larger”.

While at HAMC, Sonny served as Oakland’s president and was often the public face of the group.

There is no overall president of the group, but the Oakland faction is often viewed as its headquarters and mother charter due to Sonny’s efforts.

Hells Angels became a global phenomenon in the 1960s when the first charter based outside of California opened in New Zealand in 1961.

It then began to spread across the US and around the world, with the first European charter opening in 1969 in London, England.

5

5

5