Television in the mid-1960s was nothing if not predictable. As we watched the shadows on the wall, behind us society was undergoing dramatic change. The old ways were failing, cracks formed in the smooth, comforting facade. Bit by bit it was revealed that whoever was in charge was not being entirely truthful. One of the first television shows to reflect our growing national cynicism was The Monkees: Four longhaired kids who respected neither the camera nor the situation comedy process. The Monkees broke the fourth wall so many times you felt like you were on set with them.
Amid typical Monkee chaos in walks The Black Angels biker gang featuring a leader who just wants to destroy somebody. 50 years ago the cliché biker image was so embedded in our culture that all it took was a black jacket to signify a hoodlum. Harley Davidson has mined that image right up to today, creating an entire sub-set of true believers. The rest of us modern motorcyclists with our high-tech, high-vis monkey suits look more like school crossing guards.
By Joe Berk I'm not a Glock guy and it's not likely I'll ever own…
By Joe Berk A.J. Baime writes a weekly "My Ride" column for the Wall Street…
By Joe Berk Very few (if any) final scenes have sparked as much discussion and…
By Joe Berk I've been a motorcycle guy nearly all my life and I've owned…
By Joe Berk This is the first of several book reviews to follow in the…
By Joe Berk The destination on this fine day was Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, part…