The Bikeriders is a 2024 American crime thriller film that follows the evolution of the Vandals Motorcycle Club in 1960s Chicago. The film is based on a 1968 photobook of the same name by Danny Lyon which documented a motorcycle club’s journey. Now fans are curious to know whether Vandals MC was a real biker gang, or is just fictional.
Here’s all you need to know about the Vandals Motorcycle Club and whether it’s real or fictional.
Was The Bikeriders’ Vandals MC a real biker gang?
No, The Bikeriders’ Vandals MC is a fictional motorcycle club. However, it is inspired by the real Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
The Bikeriders features a motorcycle club named Vandals MC, formed sometime in the 1960s in Chicago. However, this motorcycle club is only a fictionalized version of the real Outlaws Motorcycle Club. The film by Jeff Nichols takes inspiration from the photobook The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon. This book documents the journey and evolution of the Outlaws Motorcycle gang over the years.
As per the Outlaws Motorcycle Club’s official website, the Outlaws MC was formerly known as The McCook Outlaws. It was originally established in 1935 at Matilda’s Bar on old Route 66 in McCook, Illinois. In the coming decades, the motorcycle club saw many ups and downs, but eventually evolved and branched out to other places. Additionally, in 1969, “God forgives, Outlaws don’t“ became the motto of the club.
The aforementioned website also mentions that even today, The Outlaws exists as one of the largest Motorcycle Clubs worldwide. Many biker gangs and motorcycle clubs globally have joined the A.O.A (American Outlaws Association.)
The most recent trailer for the film introduces us to Johnny, the leader of the Vandals Motorcycle Club, and Benny, a young man interested in joining the club. The cast features Austin Butler as Benny, Tom Hardy as Johnny, Michael Shannon as Zipco, Mike Faist as Danny Lyon, and Norman Reedus as Funny Sonn, among others.
