Gangs & Patches

**SlashWylde** · 23rd January 2006, 22:10

Here's an interesting thing that happened to me on the way to the Kumeu show:

As you may know I'm an avid fan of Zakk Wylde and his music. Mr. Wylde has a band called 'Black Label Society' and sells a patch sets from his website which you can buy and sew on to a leather vest to show your appreciation for the band. So of course I bought myself a patch set and had them sewn on to a vest last year and have been wearing them to metal gigs and ocasionally on rides. Mine is the same as that in the attached pic.

I wore my leathers and BLS vest to the BDO on Friday and had a great time, got lots of positive comments about BLS and my look in gereral: All Good.

Following hot on the heels of this I decided to wear the vest to the Kumeu show cause I was in the mood. Riding out there I was changing lanes in the first part of SH16 as it leaves the city when I was passed at speed by a patched-up member of a MC gang, who suddenly slowed down and gave me a really aggressive and sustained round of 'Fuck you' finger raising, before hooning off into the distance "ooh dear" I thought, "this doesn't bode well" but carried on to the show as I was.

45mins or so later on I got to within about 1km of the show entrance and was stopped waiting in traffic when the same dude suddenly appeared at my side on his bike and demanded to know "What the FUCK is that on your back?!" I tried to tell him BLS is a metal band but he took off to the show entrance.

"OK" I thought "I'd better take this off and stow it in my saddle bags or I could get in real trouble"

Aaanyway, after that all went well, I diddn't get lynched and lived to tell the (long-winded) tale.

Question is why was he so aggressive? OK I'm not that naive. I know the BLS logo looks like a gang patch but theres no regional chapter (like Auckland or Porirua etc), or M/C written on it anywhere. Why is my vest any different to say, an Iron Maiden or GnR patch set? Or is it a case of bash the guy who looks like a rival gand member and ask questions later? Am I a dumb arse for wearing it outside of Heavy Metal circles and am I likely to get in really deep shit for wearing it whilst on my bike?

**NotaGoth** · 23rd January 2006, 22:19

Most people wouldn't even know who BLS is firstly. Headhunters. BLS. Headhunters. BLS. You can only begin to wonder what he must have thought you were "supporting."

**SlashWylde** · 23rd January 2006, 22:26

Yeeeah, I know. *sigh* that's the trouble with being enlightened; you see things from a multi-faceted point of veiw. Actually, I was in Napier last Labour weekend to see a mates band play at the 'Rack & Ruin' and rode down with the vest on. Not long after I got to the club the manager asked me to put the vest on under my T-shirt while I was near the front bar as they have gang problems in Napier and he has a house policy of no patches. He knew who BLS were but had to enforce a 'one rule for all' policy. Guess it was just luck I wasn't spotted whilst wandering the streets too.

**Pathos** · 23rd January 2006, 22:38

LMFAO

hehehe... I suppose if you want to look like a gang member you have to be ready to be treated like one. If you aren't wearing their patch on their turf It fits a lot better in your rucksack. I suppose he was pretty sure it wasn't a real gang patch otherwise he wouldn't have bothered asking.

**SlashWylde** · 23rd January 2006, 22:43

True... but like I said, I wasn't trying to look like a gang member...just expressing my appreciation for one of my favourite bands. It's all a moot point really, as the vest obviously looks too much like a gang one so I think I'll just take the hint & wear it to the occasional gig. Seems a shame that one has to censor ones own behaviour to fit in with others attitudes, but that's part of being human I guess....

**Mr Skid** · 23rd January 2006, 23:04

Originally Posted by SlashWylde

I wore my leathers and BLS vest to the BDO on Friday

This concerns me more than any gang related agression.

**thehollowmen** · 23rd January 2006, 23:16

I do get a bit of stick on occassion for my "killing as organised sport" gear.

**Pathos** · 23rd January 2006, 23:48

Originally Posted by SlashWylde

Seems a shame that one has to censor ones own behaviour to fit in with others attitudes, but that's part of being human I guess....

Look these are gangs we are talking about...losers that have nothing better to do than act tough. In some cases animal is a better terminology.

**Brian d marge** · 24th January 2006, 00:48

Gangs, Savages.. period, Just losers who cant cut it in real life.
I would prefer to honest and broke than bent with money
BUT
you were wearing a top and bottom rocker ! I know where this came from , ( both sides ) Unfortuantly the savages in NZ arent flexible enough to accomodate the style of Patch worn by others ( dey had 2 ern da patch bro ! ...I cant even spell what they would say !!)
I remember going to some motorhead concerts and some biker bands back in England in the early eightys ( anyone remember Dumpys Rusty nuts???) they wore the centre patch and either a top rocker or a bottom rocker ,,,cant remember which ,,,but I think it was different to the The Hells Angel type ( who i think have claims on that top and bottom rocker style )
Then the fashion has crept in ....
Personally I wouldnt wear it unless you want savages ( who get confused easily ,,usually after the second or third word ) resorting to their primal instints ...hit it untill pain goes away ( the pain being the sence of confusion in their pea like brain)

Stephen
click here for an article onthe history of patches ( best i could find quickly)

**buellbabe** · 24th January 2006, 06:11

DUDE! Quite simply it looks like a Patch. Are you really that surprised? There is a rigidly adhered to ettiquette amongst the various gangs and they all "control" ( in their little worlds anyway! ) different parts of town and country. If you wanna start up yr own patched club you have to seek permission from other clubs. If you don't ... well ...its yr funeral!
A few years back HOG ( Harley Owners Group ) members started putting big back patches on their jackets and paid the price, some of the patches were forcibly removed. It sux but thats the way it is, personally I don't have any patches on my jkts, I am incognito with no apparent affilliations to any club/gang. I reckon thats why I have been able to mix freely with all types for so many years!
BTW its a cool patch but wearing it while riding is gonna attract attention!

**Troll** · 24th January 2006, 06:27

Originally Posted by Brian d'marge

( anyone remember Dumpys Rusty nuts???)
Stephen
click here for an article onthe history of patches ( best i could find quickly)

Dumpys rusty nuts "£$$ing brilliant and I think he is still going

Patchs and NZ, the two just do not mix, knew a bunch of guys about 10 years ago they had a great club going and tried to go back patch, they lasted less than a week

Gang scene in NZ is still back in the 60's with the British European and American only scene unlike other countries that have less restrictive outlooks

**JWALKER** · 24th January 2006, 06:50

unfortunatly thats the gang mentality, sorry man. i grew up with my dad in one of them and most of them think if you got a image on your back they automatically assume its gang-related. its stupid i know, but, then again a few of them cant seem to tell the differance

**bungbung** · 24th January 2006, 07:32

"Black Label Bike Club" is a NYC bicycle gang/club/collective specialising in freak bikes.

Check out this short film:

http://homepage.mac.com/rachelmeyric...eTheater8.html