By James “Hollywood”Macecari
Shooting up, being a rat and stealing, used to be the cause that members were put out bad. Nowadays, especially with the newer clubs, out bad is anyone who leaves the club. The newer clubs have watered down the meaning, of someone leaving in disgrace. The term has turned into a political weapon of choice, something it was never intended to be. The whole basis of brotherhood is supposed to be for life. If brotherhood is indeed for life, how can a club designate someone out bad, without meeting those criteria? It’s easy actually, new clubs do not know the meaning. Just because someone hurts your feelings, or they can no longer continue, doesn’t mean they committed a harsh offense to carry the designation.
Politics in clubs are never ending, something which is contradictory to what a motorcycle club, is supposed to be about. Power is a human craving, no matter what the environment, people will crave power. It’s sad but it’s true, when there is a gathering of people, someone will always be there jockeying for power. Sometimes I’ve had a hard time figuring this one out, especially when it comes to motorcycle clubs. When I think of power, it’s always in the context of earning money. My first question, if you’re not earning anything, why the hell do you care about power? Sure, I guess being a president of a club gives you status, but who really cares if you’re a president. Being a president of a motorcycle club doesn’t give you street credit, so again, why let it get to your head?
Putting brotherhood into perspective
I think one must put motorcycle club brotherhood into perspective. Motorcycle Club brotherhood was supposed to be about riding, sticking together and most importantly, being there for each other. I know, I’m naive thinking about brotherhood in such simple terms. The truth of the matter, brotherhood used to be about that. Ask some of the grey beards about this topic, see what they have to say on the matter. Today brotherhood is a shell of what it used to be. Brotherhood is no longer what the original premise used to be, now it only last until someone gets pissed at each other. If you’re looking for brotherhood in the motorcycle club scene, you’ll be sorely mistaken most of the time. Motorcycle clubs nowadays are not what they used to be.
Now to be honest, I’ve always been suspicious of so-called brotherhood. I’ve always found myself cringing when someone would call me that. Most of the time people use that because they can’t remember your name, others use it so loose, it doesn’t mean jack anyway. So knowing this, why do you think these pop up clubs don’t last? It’s because they don’t know squat about what brotherhood is supposed to be about. This lack of knowledge leads these new clubs, into misinterpretation of what out bad, was supposed to be for.
If you don’t want the drama or politics, join a riding club or motorcycle rights organization
Why take a chance on a motorcycle club? I say go join a riding club, or motorcycle rights organization, like ABATE. The headaches and politics isn’t worth joining a club anymore. Many people ask why I won’t join a club. The answer is two-fold. The first reason is I work at Insane Throttle Biker News and Motorcycle Madhouse. The second reason is because I’ve been there and done it. I’m 46 now, long past my prime, all I want to do now is to share my experiences. My experiences are not only in motorcycle clubs, they are also in the streets. One of the questions I get all the time, why do you talk about street gangs a lot? The answer is simple, “it’s what I grew up in.” I’ve only been apart of one true motorcycle club, one I loved dearly, that was the Black Pistons. The first one I was in I don’t even consider a motorcycle club, sure some of us rode, but it was a gang. So when you look at my style of media, especially when talking about clubs, I’m talking about my time in the Pistons.
My outlook on motorcycle clubs have nothing to do with 1% clubs, it has everything to do with the pop-up clubs, something many people cannot separate. Pop-up clubs have spread like a virus, something I believe has really damaged the scene. Again, if you can back up your patch, great, but I find most cannot. This above everything else, is the reason, I talk ill most of the time of clubs. I should put a separation between legit clubs and those I’m actually talking about. That’s my bad on my part, it’s also probably the reason people get confused so much on my stances. Admittedly, I should’ve been more clear on the clubs I talk about. So from here on out, I’m talking about pop-up clubs.
So with pop-up clubs in mind, forget them, join a riding club instead. There is just to many headaches with clubs who’ve got no experience. If you’re going to look into a club, go with an established one.
Taking advice from a legit out bad motorcycle club member
In short, Don’t fucking do it! If someone is out bad from a legit motorcycle club, you’re playing with a hornet nest, something I learned the hard way once. Once I learned from my mistake I apologized, then went forward. I’m the one who always believed in admitting mistakes and learning from them, unlike many people who refuse to stand up and say, “I messed up.”
Out bad members from established clubs are always looking to get back at their old club. These people will do and say the most outlandish shit, in order to get back at them. Be mindful of this when listening to these type of people. 9 times out of 10, they will be leading you down the wrong path.
So what are your thoughts, on how clubs, now use the term “out bad?” Do you think the use of the term, as I do, has been misused by pop up clubs? Leave your thoughts in the comment section, don’t forget to visit the YouTube channel and Motorcycle Madhouse Radio.
Insane Throttle 
37 responses to “When did being “put out bad” from a motorcycle club become a political tool? Out Bad was supposed to be reserved for the worst of offenses against a club.”
I just had to pop in and say you hit the nail right on the head in this article dude 💯
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I’ve never understood the allure of joining a club at all. I’ve been riding for about 55 years. I do it to get places and do things without a lot of baggage and encumbrances. The last major trip was from South Carolina to Utah and back…. Great trip by the way except a blizzard in Cheyenne. The return trip was really good through the Rocky’s on I70. Ran in to a few Mongols in Kansas, nice guys. I use the bike any chance I get including going to the store 🙂
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Maybe one day they will all grow up!
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Truer words have never been spoken! The “out bad” could start their own club, heh-heh! Just kidding on that.
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I’ve heard of a M.O. in the Idaho area, putting a member out bad, just for quiting there cause.
For this , there dug them selves into a deep hole with legit M.C
World.
I agree, they throw the words, Out Bad, like water.
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Out bad is simple in our club. It means you embarrassed the club, attacked the club, had multiple serious infractions against the bylaws or consistently attacked officers of the club. Brotherhood, as described by you, is paramount in the club.
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You got it correct.
However the old clubs can be worse. It’s all about money brother.
I think you know that.
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I’ve been riding (harleys) since I was a teen, I’m now 67 and gave up riding at 65. It wasn’t my age or physical condition that made me give it up, it was the wanna be biker and wanna be clubs. We as harleys riders were looked down on till it became cool and a status symbol. I’ve associated with the top 3 clubs in my years so I know real. It’s almost to bad harleys became so popular.. to bad it wasn’t gulf carts!
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As you said New age rubies us old grey beard just laugh and cry at the same time
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Every Tuesday in Kansas City ROMEO (retired old motorcyclists eating out) visit a small family owned restaurants. About 80 show up every week. No rules,no dues, just show up.
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Ok…. I’m having a hard time understanding what your telling. What exactly is it your trying to tell.????
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Yup! I hope riders are taking notes. I feel obligated to add… Social conditioning that is hard wired into many human beings mistakenly equate “Popularity” as a assigned value in solving club politics and drama.
Contrary to the author of this article with no disrespect intended, this is even more prevalent in “RIDING CLUBS” aka (RC) AND “MOTORCYCLE MINISTRIES”. aka (MM). Many of these inexperienced “Clubers” put a greater value on “Popularity” rather than on “Ability”. In this “Gray Beards” experience… Once this is the club operating norm the DRAMA runs rampant and WILL run out of control and even kill the club.
Nothing in a club environment is more frustrating than a club prez who creates drama and then hides behind popularity while a club fractures over simple ideals that would be solved if “Brotherhood” was the Only ultimate goal.
Sincerely,
Twobit of SoCal.
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I was VP of iron souls MC I WAS “Voted out” for notifying the mother chapter president that our chapter president and treasurer conspired and stole toy run money from disadvantaged children!
Disgraceful! Fuck um! I have every document proving they stole money.
Another brother was also “voted out”
For “seeing” the theft.
Moral: don’t support those f’n thieves.
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lol…Not a club but me n bunch of aquaintances just went thru that shit n we barely met a year ago.
I got my Lone Wolf patches on and Im keeping em!!!
It was great lots of good times with the bros….but it got old n yes the power trips n plays started.
Reason they got pissed at me is because I preach the brotherhood motto…these guys were would leave riders behind on the road and stranded if they broke down.
It was BROTHERHOOD at the start of the day, and just HOOD at the end of it
I save alot of money now, i liked to buy round and grub…..n sticky green 🙂
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I was a Bandido for 9 1/2 years. With hangaround and prospect time, I was part of the red & gold for a total of 13 1/2 -14 years. I was put on mandatory Saturdays at work for about a year which caused my attendance at club functions to falter quite noticably especially when I was know for my very loyal, very above average participation status. I was told several times that my name was brought up a lot lately for lack of participation. After over a year of hoping things would return to the way they were when I first fell in love with the club I decided I would rather leave volunteerilly than to be put out in bad standings by a drunken President who was just waiting for the opportunity to once again miss use his position and put me out more because it would aleviate a lot of his guilty conscience by not having to see the face anymore of someone he has disrespected several times with his drunken shinannigans and more than a couple of my ol’ ladies over the years. So two days after I left the club he changed my status to non-communication ( o.k.a. “Out in Bad Standings”)The thing that bugs me the most about the Brothers that turned there backs on me from the orders of a chicken shit like that are the same Brothers that kissed me on the mouth and told me they loved me just two days before. Had I not kept silent about his shinannigans to everyone but him and I, he would rightfully be the one with this status instead of me.
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I was in a club.2 members were voted out bad.the treasurer and the club president.they wede stealing funds ftom the club.thats out bad
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I once was VP of a 1% club put out in bad. I swear you wrote my biography of the last ten years.
Well written and spot on..
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It’s not just “pop up clubs” that misuse the term “out bad”. I was “out bad” from a major league club, and I know others who are “out bad” from other major league clubs, and ain’t none of us did anything that would “qualify” us being “out bad”. Most of us had disagreements with others, and because their feelings were hurt, they decided to put us “out bad” when we left the club. About the only club around me that still remembers what brotherhood is about, is a small non 1% club, that’s been around for 20+ years.
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I’m from east coast I’ve seen big changes in legit clubs and the new thing is quantity over quality,not what real bikers wanna see. Always keep it on 2
Maryland
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Good morning!!.
I like your thoughts about bikers.
Much to be said.
Please keep up the good work.
Much love and respect to you.
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I agree with your article. That happened to me. I made a mistake. I was to be punished for it. Got drunk and passed out, leaving a good friend (25 yrs) in control of my clubhouse. I shouldn’t have let that happen. Accepting the punishment of being knocked back to prospect. I only wanted to speak my peace. Then the ugly head of popularity within the club rose up. One officer wanted me kicked. The rest fell in line. Unanimous vote to become a member. A small cliche to be kicked. I loved my club. I believed in brotherhood to the end. I found out that day, it doesn’t exist. To much back biting and positioning within, weakened what brotherhood should be. For better or worse to the end was lost to the men who called me brother n a daily basis. The only bright spot for me afterwards was, ” at least I am not the brother to be put out” by political wolves that exist in cliches, that start to arise in any large groups . Thanks for the article and the opprotunity to express the pain I still feel to this day. BROTHERHOOD …I long for it…I am happy for those who found it, but don’t be surprised if you dont. Everyone peace.
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Correction: “At least I am not the next brother to be out”
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Not a member but socialise with members and yes popularity drinking and mouth running is the new “brotherhood” turning backs on members who have done anything and everything for the club making them the bad guy mean while the president makes phone calls and has his own members beat up because he caused drama and left his members there knowing a fight was gunna happen. This being the same president that put the club members families in danger as well. And continues on with his shinangins for everyone else to get the brute end of the force while he hides behind his booze and popularity. I was raised in the biker community lots of relatives in the 1% or married into the 1% and my favorite aunt who taught me some of the ways of being a bikers woman would be throwing hands at this foolish RC president pop up club for being such an idiot. This is not a “brotherhood” world anymore and its disgusting!
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Imagine that, yes i agree with you, clubs now days don’t know what there doing, but some of the ones that have been around for 30, 40, years, are no different, they are falling in to the same thing, I also was a piston, witch you know the affiliate club, they are no better, its all a fucking joke now days, bunch of tuff guys that talk and don’t do shit, around my area anyway, the put out on bad is bullshit now days, I was put out on bad for nothing, I threatened to beat a OL’S ass cuz he kept disrespecting me , several times after i warned him, and his boss, I was the boss of a piston chapter, i was running the chapter like it was supposed to be run. Like the old school way, what i was tought and grew up with, the O L chapter in my area didn’t like it, at times felt like i was running everything for both chapters, the OL boss didn’t want to handle nothing here, ask how i would handle things, so i would give him my input, then he say why dont u handle that, to handling some smaller club issues in are area, have me sit in on meetings that i shouldn’t have been in, he was never around so most things got pushed off on me, but a member in my chapter would fuck up, i would put a probation patch on them, or some other discipline and they would stick up for them , witch puts me in a spot, i would say what they did to other bosses and was told i did the right thing, so what gives, being in a club is a fucking joke, I built the chapter here from nothing, always was told from other chapters and members, even some of the O L’S said i was doing a great job, i know how to run a club, if i didn’t they wouldn’t have let me do it, its not something they just let anyone do, I’ve been clubbing for 25 years, i was around with all the old school, so yeah it’s a fucking joke, they had to make up lies and bullshit to get me out on bad, just some stupid lies and bullshit, of course it was the OL’S in my area that did that and git me out on bad, for no reason, cuz they did like what i was doing, didn’t take no shit and ran it like it should be, I’ve seen it happen so many times over the club years, so kids, THINK TWICE, before u join, not worth it, far as im concerned there all pussys,
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Great read. Ke
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I have friend who recently left, and he is considered ‘out in bad’, but he left to enjoy his grandkids and do more. To me back in the day, you were out in bad when you did something that hurt the club behind there back…but those were the rules we wrote.
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When you referred to stealing as a way to get put out bad. I thought it was stealing from a club member. I mean realistically we know some members steal for a living.
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Speaking from first hand experience, just about every bit of motorcycle club culture has turned into an old man’s game of politics. I was young when I joined a very well known mc. My father was and still is a member and has been for over 25 years. 5 years in and I still never participated in the politics, I joined to ride my chopper and be with my brothers, not play reindeer games. I ended up in a situation where I handled something the wrong way, let’s just say I was wrong. I ended up politic’t though and lost my patch and was busted back to prospect. I put in over a year prospecting again and ended up just not being able to get along with just one of the older members, my father’s best friend albeit, and was asked to hang it up so I did. Regardless I respect him and love my club and know that there’s a reason for all things. So on to the actual topic of being out bad as a political tool….being well aware of this since I’ve been out of the club in good standing, yet still not on great terms with one guy, I’ve had to completely stay away from almost all my brothers while the man is still alive, simply to protect myself from an out in bad standing………I love the club, and will return some day and have to protect my good standing, even though I’m not even a member anymore
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Respect to you Hollywood you really hit it on the head in this subject but hey ok the other hand the out n bad guys could always start there own club…” the 86ers”….. lmao
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People use the word (moniker) “Brother” not just loosely, but foolishly.
To consider someone a Brother it means they are a part of you, blood or not.
Brother refers to someone who means more to you than any average man.
Brother means Brother which means LOVE… NOT friend, acquaintance, neighbor, coworker, fellow riding enthusiast, etc.
Only fools refer to someone as their Brother when they feel no Love in Their Heart for that person.
Out Bad…. that is a totally different subject.
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Hollywood … Excellent read….
And JR…… I’ve been waiting for someone to say something about the Brotherhood thing. What Brotherhood….. It died somewhere along the way. They call you brother today and snitch you out or turn their back on you tomorrow. Every body just throws the word around like it ain’t nothing. Pisses me off when someone I don’t even know and don’t even ride calls me brother. I’ve been known to tell a few of them…… ” I ain’t your fucking brother” !!. If I call you my brother, by god it means something. It means I got your back, I’m there if you need me and I sure as fuck ain’t gonna ride off and leave you broke down on the side of the road or wait for ya to go take a piss and blast off while you’re in the pisser……. That don’t seem like Brotherhood to me…. I am my Brothers keeper. Fuck with him, fuck with me.
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Thanks Bill
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Im out bad with an established club thats been around since the 70s. I dont use drugs. Never stole. Never snitched. Never fought with any in the club. I in fact was an officer in the club. Another member who was the cousin of the chapter president and vice president of the chapter, violated 3 bylaws that were serious. I brought it up to the national officers. My chapter president didnt like it and brought false charges against me. I was demoted to probate. At that point i felt the brotherhood was gone so i left the club. The next day my ol lady heard from an ol lady of a support club of the dominant 1% club i was out bad. They never told me face to face or what i was out bad for. Years later i was asked to join another established club. I told them about my status. My old club tried to say i was a snitch and they had paperwork. I called them on that bullshit the other club asked for that proof. They refused as i knew they would, being it was bullshit. Then they tried to say it was for talking shit about the club which never happened just like now im not naming the club. And how could i talk shit about a club if i was put out bad the next day i quit? So its not just pop up clubs its all clubs. If someone tells me they are out bad i dont judge them on it i see how the man acts as the out bad status now days is bullshit.
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Right on bill. Well said..I was in a club that was doing everything wrong… No brotherhood at all. You can bet you was going to get stab in the back soon…I would have gone with hands with anyone.. I can handle my own..but when the lies start there is no stopping them…and it’s all bad from then on…
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To Bill….
I agree totally.
There are only a few people on this planet I call my Brother.
I don’t even allow people to refer to me as Brother if i don’t feel that way towards them.
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To Bill….
I agree totally.
There are only a few people on this planet I call my Brother.
I don’t even allow people to refer to me as Brother if i don’t feel that way towards them.
And by the way, Pop Up Clubs are Not Clubs in any fashion.
They are usually people who think Sons of Anarchy is a good example of what is real in the club world.
And, if you’ve never been a member of a real club, you really don’t know anyway.
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Been around since the late 60’s. Totally different scene. Definite rules and you never ever broke them. But it had to be something really bad to get your patch ripped.
Stepped away for some time after the man I loved dearly died… but ran into someone in the early 90’s. That was interesting. My sister was placing bets on which of us would shoot & kill the other first. She always put her money on me. I knew he didn’t like women leaving him, so I made him think it was his idea and even got the ass to move my things out for me!
You know how you aren’t supposed to talk about what happened in ” church” and all that inner club working shit. He always told me everything. Except once, and he came back crying. Took me hours to get it out of him. A very old friend of mine had his patch ripped, but he never did tell me why. That crazy motherfucker had done so much for them and, yeah, he was crazy. They needed someone like that. I still would like to know the story on that. Betrayal after all those years. That’s truly fucked up.
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