The movie "The Bikeriders" is on Amazon Prime in the USA at present.

[p6x]

This movie stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler & Tom Hardy.

I have not yet had time to watch it, but it is supposedly loosely depicting how some rebel motorcycle riders evolved into forming modern day clubs such as the notorious Hell's Angels and the like, with chapters all over the world for some.

I watched the Son's of Anarchy show which was based on what those motorcyclist gangs are. To me, it ressembled the Mafia rules that I experienced in first person while I was managing one of my companie's branch in Sicily. The biggest difference, is you need to have a Harley Davidson for transport, and ride it most of the time. The rest of the activities are pretty similar in making money the illicit way, dealing with foes ruthlessly, buying authorities and politicians. The territory respect is also similar to that of the Mafia enforced frontiers. In Italy, the regional Mafia have local names, and they are divided into Cosche, Cosche working under a Capo. As far as I understand, motorcycle gangs such as the Hell's Angels operates in a similar way, with different chapters, and each chapters having a president, some enforcers in a very similar hierarchy.

When I was in Gela Sicily, the location we rented belonged to the local Capo Mafioso, Salvatore Iocolano, Capo della Coscha dei Pastori. This is where I got all my knowledge and experience about how the Mafia works.

I found this post on Facebook, in Italian, that gives a good recap of what happened when I was there: https://www.facebook.com/GelaStories/posts/468794899888563/

They started a war, and bodies started to pile all over Gela.

I should probably write a story about this. This was very educational for me. I got to meet the Capo Mafioso, had to accept his invitation for lunch, went there in his armoured car, body guard included. It was a business lunch, where he explained to me how things were going to work for our operations while in his premises. He had kept an office in the building.

This should make for something very entertaining... you have no idea... lol... I left Sicily in January 1991.

I thought I would post the translation of the small write-up on Facebook:

In 1987 in Gela and in the neighboring municipalities a violent conflict began between the mafia and stidda that lasted 5 years. In just five years, it is estimated that over 300 murders have been committed between Gela, Vittoria, Niscemi, Mazzarino, Palma di Montechiaro and Porto Empedocle. Among the victims there were also many innocent people and countless injured. The war was fought by the stiddari (originally clans of shepherds from Gela and Niscemi), led by the former breeder Salvatore Iocolano, and by the mafia groups commanded by the fugitive boss Giuseppe "Piddu" Madonia (in the photo), mafia representative of the province of Caltanissetta. Piddu Madonia, a fugitive since 1983, was finally arrested on 6 September 1992 in Longare (Vicenza). Again the collaborator Leonardo Messina declared that "before Niscemi and Gela were a single family because there were few men of honor. [...] In Gela [Piddu Madonia] had affiliated Salvatore Polara to Cosa Nostra [...]. The mafia war began with the killing of the stiddari Salvatore Lauretta and Orazio Coccomini, men of Iocolano, and later the stiddari and mafia clans also hired minors as killers. In the first three years alone, between 1987 and 1990, more than one hundred murders took place in Gela, culminating in the so-called "Gela massacre" (November 27, 1990), in which three simultaneous ambushes caused eight deaths and eleven injuries.

What was really incredible, is that a lot of the killings were perpetuated by boys and girls below legal age.

There is actually a true story about a minor girl in Gela, who was heading a gang of minors that could be contracted for murders or enforcements of any kind.

Say for example that you have an issue with your neighbor, and you want some kind of punishment to be applied; contact her, pay, and they something would happen, such as car burning, or threats... I remember reading she got arrested eventually.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strage_di_Gela

 

Edited Friday at 03:34 PM by p6x

[guzzler]

Bloody hell that must have been an eye opener for you.....!

I don't get all this gangster/outlaw club caper as basically if you live by the sword you'll surely die by the sword! Some might last a little longer than others, but the sword will come for you!

Must get round to watching this movie all the same as I've had the 4k bluray since it was released and haven't done so yet! 

Thanks for reminding me, now just need the time to watch it ha ha.

Cheers  

[footgoose]

I thought they did a pretty good job with the movie. Some great bikes, sets, and a few good actors.

[guzzler]

Bugger, first time I've had the time to watch it in ages and it's 30 degrees and hardly a breath of wind outside....

Do I shoot up to the lounge, fire up the tv and surround sound and put it on OR do I pour a nice glass of NZ Sauv Blanc and slip out to the pool for a dip....?

I think I hear the vino and pool calling.....!

Cheers 

Ps maybe I'll get to watch it in the hols which aren't far away. 

[audiomick]

The pool and a Sauv Blanc sounds good to me.

[guzzler]

Ha ha 

Yep the pool and vino won out mate......

Cheers 

[audiomick]

Good move.

[docc]

22 hours ago, guzzler said:

Bugger, first time I've had the time to watch it in ages and it's 30 degrees and hardly a breath of wind outside....

Do I shoot up to the lounge, fire up the tv and surround sound and put it on OR do I pour a nice glass of NZ Sauv Blanc and slip out to the pool for a dip....?

I think I hear the vino and pool calling.....!

Cheers 

Ps maybe I'll get to watch it in the hols which aren't far away. 

I hope it makes you feel even better that I thought, "Hey! 30 degrees here, too!"

But Fahrenheit.... (what's that, minus 4C? 

Sitting down to a Danzig Baltic Porter after a full day in AWD transiting a sudden winter blow  in 70 mph (110 kph) heavy "interstate" highway traffic. 

Pool? I hope mine has not frozen over while I was away. 

 

[guzzler]

Mate, it's 40 degrees today....

But I reckon I might just stay inside with the AC!

Cheers 

Ps glad I'm workin from home and don't have to be out in it!

Pps tomorrow it's supposed to be 20 ....good ole Victorian weather, don't like it, just give it a day or two!