History of the three-piece patch

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) was founded in 1924 as an organizing arm of motorcycle manufacturers and mainly supported by [them] to promote motorcycle riding in America. They sanctioned groups of riders from the same area that rode together as motorcycle clubs. Some wore complete matching outfits with the name of their motorcycle club stitched on the back of their shirts and jackets. At events, the AMA gave awards for the best-dressed club--so this was the start of motorcycle club patches. During an event in 1947 in Hollister, CA members of the Booze Fighters MC and Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington (POBOB) made the headlines with a sensational news story. The AMA wrote an article in their magazine shortly after the episode denouncing the offensive bikers stating, "99% of all of their members are law-abiding citizens and only 1% are outlaws". Thus began what are today referred to as outlaw motorcycle clubs and "one percenters." These clubs were not sanctioned by the AMA and were banned from attending AMA events. In order to designate themselves as an outlaw club to all other clubs, the one percenters cut their club patches into three separate pieces. The top rocker was the name of the club, the center was the emblem of the club, and the bottom rocker was their locale. The outlaw motorcycle clubs organized their own events and parties and did the opposite of what the AMA had been doing: There were no Best Dressed awards, they modified ("chopped") down their bikes leaner and meaner, to go faster and look different, scrapped the mufflers, guzzled beer, and did other "wild" things which, with the help of a willing press and Hollywood character studies, created the cultural icon of the rebellious outlaw biker. A fictionalized version of the Hollister "raid" later became the storyline for a movie called "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando as leader of the fictional Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, and Lee Marvin as the Booze Fighters' infamous Wino Willie. And so it went. More movies, more bikers, more fear, more headlines. Today, a three-piece patch signifies that the club is an "outlaw club," but not necessarily a 1% club. With very few exceptions, the club has been approved by the dominant club in the state or area. The three-piece patch is awarded in three parts as a prospective member earns the privilege to wear the full patch. A "hangaround" is someone who is eligible for membership and has been invited to attend club events and runs, but wears no part of the patch. If he is sponsored by a full member and approved by the club members he may wear the bottom rocker and is considered a "prospect" or "probate". If he successfully completes the training period and is approved by 100% of the members, he is allowed to have the top rocker and the "center patch" or club insignia. His colors are then complete and he is considered to be a full member or "patch holder." The traditional, or "old school," three-piece patch MC is one that adheres to established protocols, traditions and a code of conduct.

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Comment by Kingb Hughes on April 7, 2012 at 1:23pm: no question. this will b a must learn. Associates will / must memorize. MONEY , You've got a good Virtual Library here. Your innovative platform allows ALL into the DUCE NATION.{2wheeler}. Its really time for you loyal IRONnSTEEL TRU4LIFE BIKERS to spread the wisdom of this site. MONEY deserves support. Your HERE AREN'T YOU! You wish ALL others possessed this knowledge dont you? Then get busy. The DIRTY here in the SOUTH will be hosting an EVENT on MAY's 1st weekend. We plan a sign up drive to help boost WORLDOFSOUL MC MEMBERSHIP to the 10k mark. Thats more knowledge. Do your part in your area.

Comment by Ray Moore on March 31, 2012 at 1:23pm: This is very good information because too many new clubs coming out these days disrepecting others not knowing the protocls and the code of conduct

Comment by Alahundro Buckley on September 21, 2011 at 8:38pm: Wow I didn't know this was like that good info I need to read a lot more on bike clubs.

Comment by Commander on June 12, 2011 at 11:27am: Very good information here, and i agree 1% clubs should be respected more, they set the tone, and know what is what...I'm not in a club at the moment, i'm looking, i ride a Harley, there are alot of 1% clubs in NYC, some i know some i dont care to know, but they all get my respect...No easy finding club that does what u like to do in NY, too many...time will tell!! I say this"if u cant carry the weight dont pick it up"!!

Comment by BklynQueen on May 12, 2011 at 1:08pm: Very good information. The History of the patch is a very good read. I definitely learned something. Peace BQ

Comment by Lord Chill on April 24, 2011 at 3:30pm: I like that : three-piece patch MC is one that adheres to established protocals.

Comment by Derona Ivery on April 1, 2011 at 11:50pm: I LOVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS , EVERY ONE CAN BE UPDATED ON THIS, OF THESE FEATURE OF LIFE , AS OF THE MC WORLD CAUSE LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE COME FROM BROKEN UP GANGS AN THAT S NOT TRUE , HOW MANY COPS AN OLD FIRE MAN SOME OLE SCHOOL THUGS , BUT GENLTLE WITH SO I SAID THAT SO SAY THIS STOP JUDGING US BY OUR COLORS AN JACKET, , WHEN WE GET WITH YOU THEN YOU JUDGE US CAUSE THEN YOU.LL KNOW FOR SURE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MY SIS*** AN BROTHERS- NAPTOWN QUOTES"(ALL FOR ONE,AN ONE FOR ALL WE STAND TALL )-WE ARE FAMILY,PEACE THE RAVE OF DAYTON

Comment by Lionheart on January 11, 2011 at 10:17am: Who is the Dominant club in VA/Northern VA?

Comment by Missfit on October 6, 2010 at 11:26pm: I am apart of a support club that supports an outlaw club, I wear a three-piece patch because my club was "blessed" by an outlaw club to have that set up. My club (of women) are not outlaws because we dont piss standing up! One thing for sure our bros won't let sh%! happen to us and I will Fu*& something up about ANY of them as well. Rock your colors...NEVER LAY THEM DOWN. I am seen and only heard when you hear my pipes when I ride past or over your ass! PIECE

Comment by Drama on July 22, 2010 at 7:19am: Well in Louisville and I could be wrong, but it looks like there will be four. Sin City 1st, Outcast came 2nd and within the last four months, Wheels and Hells Lovers. I get most of my education from the Outlaws because I am a female MC and we have no male escorts when we ride out of state. I get a lot of heat from the city clubs where I live because I have outlaw numbers in my phone, but when outlaws stop me out of state and quiz me on my stuff, the non-traditional MC community can't help me, but my outlaw contacts can cover me from starting point to the end of my trip. I think people get scared about Outlaw period. If people act like they have social skills, they will find that they can co-exist and have any problems.

Comment by Drama on July 21, 2010 at 5:16pm: Comment by Harron(Shorty) Preston on May 10, 2010 at 12:18pm The black biker community needs outlaw motorcycle clubs in America....It gives the mc world balance. Let me comment on this quote. The problem with that is that people believe that this is a free country and no one has the right to tell anyone that they cannot act on their first Amendment. My response to them is that the MC community is a subculture and this subculture has "prison yard rules". I admit, I don't want someone regulating what I do, but so that we are all on the same page, we all might want to read from the same book that Outlaws will be acting upon. Even if we have a city that does not have Outlaws, it is good to know what the Outlaws expect from others when we go traveling away from home. For others, they are not just bikers on Saturday, they live and breathe this so you need to know your environment.

Comment by world on July 21, 2010 at 11:48am: JUST REMEMBER BEING AN OUTLAW MEANS MOORE THEN JUST WEARING THE COLORS....CARRY YOUR STATE LIKE YOU SHOULD...

Comment by Hollywood on February 15, 2010 at 7:52pm: Martin REV Greenwood, the dominant club(s) in MD are: Down N Dirty; East Coast Busas; and Flaming Knights. We are a female club just started in Nov. 09 and we went through the process of obtaining, letters of recommendation from the above, as well as introduced at the MDV Forum. We are setting an example of how to come up as a new club with complete backing fromt the dominant MD clubs. We choose to rock a two piece patch with complete understanding of both processes. Each memeber as well as our club name/patch are registered with AMA. We are also trademarked. Our main objective is Safety and Life. We are all family and need to ensure we are all safe.
Peace and Much Respect
Hollywood, VP & FM of Mirror Image Motorcycle Association.

Comment by Ghost on February 13, 2010 at 9:04am: Here Here......I couldn`t agree more!!

Comment by Drama on February 12, 2010 at 7:50am: My club is a three piece patch. We are not an outlaw club, but I do educate my girls on some of the outlaw ways because as females with a three piece patch they need to know that outside of our state, others may not care for it and it is not a sign of bowing down if approached and asked to remove the vest while attending a function in another's club house or riding without men. It is just understanding that we don't know who is willing to die for their colors or prove a point. However, we have continued on our journey without worse drama.

Comment by sammy turner on January 29, 2010 at 1:05pm: if they dont know they will soon find out!

Comment by Ghost Rider on January 22, 2010 at 10:43pm: SOOO MANY CLUBS IN MY AREA JUST DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THIS & THEY REALLY NEED TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES!!

Comment by Rick Mitchell on January 20, 2010 at 1:06am: Our club wears the traditional 3 piece colors, but is not considered an outlaw club. We are well recognized in So Cal and other areas, but are a 99% club of traditional riders and motorcycle sports fanatics. We just enjoy tradition and social friendships with all motorcycle clubs and riders everywhere.

Comment by Carrie "SuSu" Dickson on January 15, 2010 at 12:19pm: My club wears a 3 piece, our dominant club is aware, but we started out with our bottom rocker just having the state..They explained to us and asked us to change it. So we changed our bottom rocker to the city and state.

A lot of folks don't have problems adhering to the rules of the dominant clubs, I think its the way some of the representatives of that dominant club come across, they are sometimes overbearing and forceful, which in turn makes that subordinate club push back. Nobody ever wants to be disrespected.

Comment by Mase on January 4, 2010 at 3:34pm: Down N Dirty is one of the biggest dominant clubs in MD. They are not the only one but one that is easy to find. The Flaming Knights and Buffalo soldiers to name a few......