The Black Sabbath M.C. 40+ Years and Still Strong...cont
The Vietnam War was in full swing as the soul music of Motown Records swept the ghettos of America. Pep’s good friend bought him a 1973 Honda 305 Scrambler and gave it to him as a gift and so a biker was born. Pep and the other original members, who were from various professional trades, began to practice their riding skills on that “305cc Scrambler” from Honda Motor Cycles L.T.D., on the empty streets of those neighborhoods in transition - that later became the 805 freeway. It wasn’t long before everyone owned a motorcycle “chopped” known as “choppers”.
The brothers started meeting to ride on Sundays after Church. It was a day of Praise and rest for the fellows but, their wives soon became annoyed with the boys as the Sunday meeting places transferred from garage to garage. It seemed that no wife wanted the meetings at their home so the boys started looking for a Club House. In 1974 those men who rode on Sundays rented a Restaurant/Bar formally known as the Villa Inn from Mrs. Rose Gardener (right next to her beauty shop) at 4280 Market Street.
“There were demolished neighborhoods of nothing but empty streets then,” recalls Paul ‘Pep’ Perry, National President and last surviving active member of the founding brothers who formulated Black Sabbath Motor Cycle Club.
Great times continued at The Black Sabbath as street racers and social riders would meet each Sunday following Sunday Service to take a ride through the city and county. Other actives included the runs deep in the desert to the Salton Sea. Pep, then the Road Captain, would lead the drag racers to the Salton Sea during motorcycle rallies we would host. All the great racers met at Salton Sea!
“That was about the time that I painted all of the motorcycles yellow,” said Alan 'Sugarman' Brooks President of the Tulsa, Oklahoma chapter and founder of the Wichita, Kansas chapter (1981). “That was the club's official motorcycle color. Everyone had a yellow bike to match our blue riding uniforms. Boy did it look sharp!”
During the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s the motor cycle clubs soared in popularity. In San Diego it grew twice as fast due to the weather, “You can ride 365 days a year here” said George 'Magic' Clark, Past San Diego President and retired Master Chief United States Navy.
The Black Sabbath Motor Cycle Club at 4280 Market Street has stood as the stopping point and the first run each year for all Southern California motorcycle clubs. Our yearly annual occurs in February and everyone comes down to San Diego.
The Black Sabbath has also been active in community and charity events. It sponsored its first “Smoke Free” picnic designed to adopt neighborhood youngsters and teach them not to smoke cigarettes nor participate in the use of drugs in 1999. In 2009 the Phoenix chapter, under the guidance of Lee 'General' Johnson President, and Dewey 'Jazz' Johnson National Ambassador, raised $18,000 for the Homeward Bound charity. It protects and supports battered women and children in Phoenix, Arizona. Also the Columbia, SC chapter raised $16,000 for chairity in 2009 under the leadership of Aurora 'Pawz' Sanks.
In 2001 the Black Sabbath's influence was even felt on Hollywood's silver screen in the DreamWorks movie “BIKER BOYZ“. John aka “Black Dragon” Bunch, President of the Black Sabbath MC Atlanta, GA chapter published the Black Sabbath news letter, Black Iron Motorcycle Magazine and Urban Biker Cycle News and as a result was tapped to help produce the DreamWorks movie, “Biker Boyz.” It was the first and only movie made depicting the African American subculture of motorcycle clubs in America. “Biker Boyz” featured The Black Sabbath prominently and because the movie was so successful it caused a resurgence of the African American motorcycle club sub culture in America. Hundreds of thousands of young people began to ride and join motorcycle clubs across the country.
“We had no idea when we were making Biker Boyz that it would have such an impact nationwide,” said Black Dragon. “Now we can directly see that the Black Sabbath Motor Cycle Club not only had a resounding effect on the subculture in Southern California but, also on the nation as a whole. We are living up to our motto A Breed Apart.”
Over the past 36 years the Black Sabbath Motor Cycle Club has launched chapters in San Diego, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Tulsa, St Paul, Little Rock, Memphis, Atlanta, and Columbia, SC. This year the Black Sabbath selected its National Board of Directors which will advise its fully operational Sickle Cell wellness center in Little Rock, Arkansas and Sickle Cell foundation, that supports research, quality of life issues, education and daily assistance to individuals suffering from this debilitating disease.
Lewis 'Doc' Perry Little Rock chapter President and founder of our Sickle Cell Wellness Center and Foundation said, "I want to make sure that the Black Sabbath is giving back to our communities across the nation. We want to set an example for our children to show that we can stand together to make a valid impact on our society that helps people to better than they did before we met them. To that end I am committed to serving the community with our Sickle Cell foundation. This disease has touched my own family and victimized my oldest son. I watch the respect and bravery he demonstrates as he lives life with exhuberence. He empowers me to accomplish more each day."
The Black Sabbath leads the way as it has since its inception in 1974. From racing the fastest motorcycles across the desert to creating motorcycle magazines to making movies to superior charitable giving and community involvement. The Black Sabbath Motorcycle Club since 1974 is still strong!
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