Founder of Greece’s Hells Angels talks about his life: ‘I don’t regret anything’

The Hells Angels were founded in 1948 in California and are one of the most famous and controversial motorcycle clubs in the world. With their legendary Harley Davidsons, their sense of freedom and their strict organizational structure, the Hells Angels represent not just a motorcycle group but a way of life associated with independence and resistance to authority. However, their reputation is also linked to the darker side of anarchy. Members have sometimes been accused of extortion, sexual exploitation, money laundering, drug trafficking, embezzlement and document falsification.

Similar incidents have been recorded in court cases in Greece. On October 12, 2011, an explosion occurred at a tattoo studio in a shopping center on A. Metaxa Street in Glyfada, which police attributed to a quarrel between members of the Hells Angels. A year later, on November 20, 2012, a 31-year-old Greek-Canadian gang member involved in smuggling cocaine from Mexico to the United States was found murdered in Charakas, Keratea. Evidence suggests he had been put to sleep, tied up, strangled and burned.

In 2013, a 42-year-old club member was arrested in the southern suburbs of Athens for trafficking eight kilograms of cocaine. In November 2014, a bomb exploded at the Hells Angels clubhouse on Gortynias Street in the Skarpiza district of Koropi. During a subsequent police raid, bats, swords and documents detailing the club’s internal operations were discovered. Firearms were seized from the homes of two members and their owners were imprisoned.

Club literature outlined the steps to becoming a member of the Hells Angels. The first requirement was sponsorship from existing members. The candidates were then asked to prove themselves through minor crimes such as theft and intimidation, which could eventually escalate into more serious acts. In the United States, initiation practices reportedly include murder. Although such extreme measures have not been proven in Greece, authorities knew that the club operated with similarly strict structures.

The Hells Angels in Greece

The name Hells Angels has become synonymous in Greece with Yiannis Rossikopoulos, also known as “Chief”. A prominent figure in the 1990s, he brought the Hells Angels to Greece, organizing them in a way that reflected the club’s international culture. He tells protothema.gr about his life, filled with extreme experiences, non-conformity and defiance.

From his teenage years watching Hells Angels films, to his involvement in the Baader-Meinhof terrorist group, his bank robberies, his imprisonment and the founding of the first Greek chapter of the Hells Angels in 1994-1995, the chef’s story is cinematic.

Early years and involvement with Baader-Meinhof

At 15, Rossikopoulos dreamed of the Hells Angels lifestyle. His need for adrenaline led him down dangerous paths. At 19, he was recruited by a Greek mathematician involved in the famous Baader-Meinhof gang. Acting as a courier, Rossikopoulos delivered packages to specific locations under secret conditions. His anti-system positioning and his quest for thrills also lead him to bank robberies.

Military service and imprisonment

A family scheme brought him back to Greece, where he was subjected to compulsory military service and spent 285 days in military prison. He later served two years in civil prison for drug charges, a charge he said was baseless.

Foundation of the Greek chapter

In 1994-1995, Rossikopoulos and six others established the first Greek Hells Angels club. Their activities attracted the attention of the police and intelligence services. Despite the challenges, he enjoyed representing Greece at international Hells Angels gatherings.

Strict rules and inheritance

Rossikopoulos adhered to the club’s strict rules, emphasizing loyalty and honor. However, disillusionment with the attitude of the new members led to his departure in 2005. Today he reflects on a life of risk and freedom, saying: “I regret nothing.”

Even today, the chef’s past remains an integral part of his identity. “Once an angel, always an angel,” he said, envisioning her ashes resting in the gas tank of a motorcycle as his final tribute.