As George Rowe freely admits, he would never be mistaken for an angel. When he saw his hometown of Hemet, California being taken over by the Vagos motorcycle gang though, he became incensed. And when an acquintance of his disappeared after an altercation with them, Rowe decided to take action. His story is detailed in the new Gods of Mischief: My Undercover Vendetta to Take Down the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Outlaws have always fascinated the American public. There is the ongoing mystique of figures such as Jesse James or Billy the Kid in the old West. Then came the gangsters such as Al Capone, or the bank-robbing duo of Bonnie and Clyde. The outlaw biker gangs appeared after World War II, and the first celluloid celebration of them was The Wild One (1951), starring Marlon Brando. The Hell's Angels' legend was sealed with Hunter S. Thompson’s first masterpiece, The Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga.
Thompson’s book was published in 1967, and one of the first things I noticed about Rowe’s experience was how little had changed since then. Becoming a member has always been about fitting in. Although the author had given up dealing and using drugs 10 years prior to this, he seemed like a worthy Vagos prospect. As a matter of fact, he had been approached previously by various members about joining them. He looked and acted the part, which is what counted the most.
Still, there is an initiation process, and some of the things Rowe was forced to do were pretty funny. The first step for a prospect is to be a “hang around.” The hang-around guy is not a member, but is expected to jump in if there is any trouble, and to do whatever a full-fledged Vagos tells him to do. One particularly memorable episode occurred at an outdoor party. Rowe was told to stand on the top of a Porta-Potty, and sing the pledge song. While he was up there, the thing started rocking, and quickly tipped over. Rowe landed on the wrong side, and the contents of the makeshift toilet flowed all over him.
After seven months, he became a patched member of the club. Now that he was in, he would be a part of all Vagos business. Because of Rowe’s previous experience dealing drugs, he and his handler decided that focusing on illegal guns would be the best idea. He was wired up for the meetings, and was understandably a bit nervous at first. Another memorable moment comes when he and the rest of the guys are being checked by a presumably high-priced security expert. The "expert" passes a wand over the fully-wired Rowe, (who is scared to death he is going to be caught), and announces him “clear.”
Article comments
1 - Craig Denison
Sir, you have had a bunch of bushwa pulled over your face. George Rowe has been a liar, thief, and paid informant for over twenty years that I've known him. I am not nor have I been a member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club, though a close family member of my family was,they didn't choose to heed advice from several people who knew George ( who was never called or referred to as "Big George", another lie). George never quit using drugs, sold them along with guns, stolen or used with ballistics at a P.D. somewhere. What I've seen of the book was 98% fiction, and I would like to refer you to the evidence lists as to how much/many things were taken, and compare it to any "average" American homes, and to compare the benefit/loss statement. I do believe there are laws which prevent criminals from further financially from their crimes, and I do have to wonder where any possible profits will be diverted to. Well, 'nuff said, thank you for your time and consideration, I hope you take the time and effort to cure your ignorance in this matter, no offense intended, ignorance can be cured, stupidity cannot, Sincerely, Craig S. Denison