Sixty years ago, a photographer rolled with a biker gang. Now his life is a movie

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As a seasoned journalist and documentarian with a rich and eventful life experience, I can’t help but be in awe of Gene Lyon’s captivating stories. His tales of chronicling biker culture in Chicago during the 1960s and his subsequent adventures around the world are nothing short of remarkable.

In the fall of 2022, I found myself transported back to my old biker days for two consecutive days. I was in Cincinnati, not just as a casual visitor, but as a special guest on the movie set of “The Bikeriders.” This drama, based on my 1968 book of photographs and interviews, documented the early years of an outlaw motorcycle club that I had once been a part of.

In a secluded corner of the bar set for filming, production recreated the gritty clubhouse atmosphere of the gang. Writer-director Jeff Nichols was meticulously preparing a shot at this location. Outside, a lineup of classic motorcycles stood, among them one that closely resembled Lyon’s old 650cc Triumph. For years, Lyon had been away from riding such a bike.

As a cinephile, I hop on the old motorbike, and the sensation is simply exhilarating. Glancing down, I notice a small key near the oil tank, my curiosity piqued. I muse aloud, “I wonder if this thing starts?” After turning the key, I attempt to kick-start the antique machine with a burst of energy. To my amazement, it roars to life, emitting an ear-splitting noise akin to a World War I artillery barrage. Suddenly, a hundred pairs of eyes are on me.

“I yearned strongly to take that journey,” I admitted with a chuckle from my home in New Mexico. “It brought back memories of when I was only 25 and could easily ride around the corner.”

Nichols, who had harbored a dream to adapt Lyon’s book into a film for twenty years and was in the midst of a rigorous 41-day shoot, recalls that pivotal instant. “My producer was on the verge of leaping out of her seat to intervene,” Nichols reminisces. “Danny, ever the instigator or rebel, was both thrilling and petrifying as an 80-year-old man defied expectations.”

Austin Butler, right, in the movie “The Bikeriders.”
(Kyle Kaplan / Focus Features)

“The production in ‘The Bikeriders,’ led by Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy, has made it through the two-day filming in Lyon. This long-awaited movie, which received impressive feedback at Telluride Film Festival last year, premieres this Friday. However, its debut was postponed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, preventing actors from marketing the film. Consequently, Disney removed it from their schedule, forcing producer New Regency to secure a new distributor – Focus Features.”

The story vividly depicts Lyon’s experiences joining and documenting a motorcycle club based on Chicago’s north side during the mid-1960s. This club, later referred to as the Vandals in a film, offered both heartwarming camaraderie and harrowing highway encounters. Rejecting societal norms, Lyon proudly wore the colors for two years as a full member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

“Lyon focuses on the working-class men with a passion for motorcycles, who formed strong bonds among themselves. He highlights their remarkable qualities and shares his efforts to portray them in the book. Adding to their appeal, these men looked impressive as well.”

After devoting considerable effort to weightier tasks, the project emerged. During his time with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the Mississippi Delta, Lyon shared a living space with civil rights activist and future Congressman John Lewis. His subsequent work involved almost two years of photographing inside Texas prisons, resulting in deeply moving visuals reminiscent of the New Journalism style pioneered by Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe during that period.

Eventually, Leon became a valued member of the prestigious Magnum photo agency, living with renowned photographer Robert Frank for a while. He preferred to decline external projects and instead spent two weeks capturing still images at Death Valley during the production of Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1970 film “Zabriskie Point.” For three days in 1970, he documented Muhammad Ali’s training in Miami for the Sunday Times based in London. In the same year, Leon departed from New York and constructed a house in New Mexico, where he has resided since then. He shares his extraordinary journey in his newly released memoir titled “This Is My Life I’m Talking About.”

“Lyon’s most recognized piece of work is ‘The Bikeriders.’ Following suggestions from a New York editor for more text to complement the black-and-white photos, Lyon journeyed back to Chicago with a portable reel-to-reel recorder. There, he immersed himself in the Outlaws community, partaking in their rides and parties while also staying dedicated to his craft.”

The real-life Benny Bauer, the 19-year-old Chicago Outlaw member, photographed by Danny Lyon for the book that would become “The Bikeriders.”
(Danny Lyon)

As a movie lover and someone who appreciates a good photograph, I’d recommend the following: If you want to take great photos, try not to be under the influence of alcohol or too high from marijuana. Avoid taking risks that could put you in harm’s way, such as crashing your motorcycle. Instead, focus on getting the shot in sharp clarity and properly developing the film to ensure the best possible outcome. And remember, there’s no room for mistakes in capturing beautiful moments.

As a movie critic reflecting on my past, I confess that deep down, I harbored dreams of being an artist despite graduating from college. But the intellectually sound reasons for pursuing this path weren’t what truly drove me as I’ve aged. Instead, I believe it was the thrill and adventure that called to me.

When Director Nichols was around 25 years old, he discovered a copy of “The Bikeriders” in the Memphis apartment of his older brother Ben, who is part of the indie-rock band Lucero. A few years after that discovery, Ben wrote and released a song titled “Bikeriders,” with lyrics that appeared to be inspired by the book’s intense themes: “Kathy has been with Benny Bauer since that fateful night. … She’s encountered more jails, courts, and lawyers than she cares to mention.”

For an emerging filmmaker like the younger Nichols brother, the book’s photographs and interviews sparked cinematic ideas. Some of the book’s unique images were recreated in the movie.

“Danny’s ability to get people to open up and share their stories is quite remarkable,” remarks Nichols, a 45-year-old filmmaker from Little Rock, Arkansas, known for his poignant Southern dramas such as “Take Shelter,” “Mud,” and “Loving.”

Mike Faist, left, and director Jeff Nichols on the set of “The Bikeriders.”
(Kyle Kaplan / Focus Features)

The tales of their experiences become intricate and raw, at times painfulfully honest, other times uproariously funny.

In a later edition of “The Bikeriders” by Nichols, there were color photos not included in the initial publication. This version was crucial for him as it provided additional depth with new text from Lyon about the lives of some subjects he had captured years prior.

By the early 1970s, the tale of the motorcycle club took a sinister turn as portrayed in the movie. The defiant group transitioned into a ruthless criminal organization, leaving a trail of victims in their wake.

Film producers had previously considered creating a movie based on “The Bikeriders,” but Nichols was the one who obtained the official rights to the book first. In contrast to his previous work, Nichols didn’t create an initial plan for the script. Instead, he gradually developed the world of these motorcyclists through various moments and unconnected incidents before introducing a darker storyline in the second part of the film.

According to Nichols, the initial hour of the project wasn’t supposed to follow a specific storyline but rather feel natural and smooth. He even picked up motorcycling while working on it to avoid feeling like a fake.

I was captivated by Mike Faist’s portrayal of a character in “Lyon” in that film. He had recently finished working on Luca Guadagnino’s moving tennis drama “Challengers.” Just as he was looking forward to taking it easy for the rest of the year, Faist found himself irresistibly attracted to the project and the impressive roster of actors Nichols was assembling. After putting his heart into an emotionally charged film, Faist couldn’t resist the allure of this new opportunity.

In all honesty, letting go of “Challengers” was truly rewarding for me, despite how fulfilling that experience was. I was drained and had given my all. It felt like a present to Mike the actor, watching us all perform, to reinvigorate his inspiration.

In Maine, Faist drew motivation from Lyon’s experience. At his cabin, Lyon taught Faist how to operate his Nikon F-model camera. They additionally spent time fishing together, with Faist gaining insights into Lyon’s rich background as a still photographer and independent filmmaker.

“According to Faist, he holds a deep affection for individuals who have been excluded from society, considered outcasts, and frequently told they don’t belong. His feelings toward them are strong.”

Jodie Comer and Austin Butler in director Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders.”
(Kyle Kaplan / Focus Features)

Impressively authentic, the film doesn’t carry the sentimental tint common in many period pieces. Instead, it stays raw and alive. Notably, Lyon is struck by Comer’s ability to authentically portray Kathy’s distinctive Chicago accent – a role he recalls as having been brilliantly brought to life by this British actor. Previously, Kathy was known to Lyon as an exceptional speaker, full of humor and vivacity.

In one movie moment, Kathy discusses the irony of biker rules with Danny from Faist: “You see, none of those men could abide by a rule if their life depended on it, right?… Yet, they form this club and suddenly create numerous regulations for everyone. It’s quite preposterous, isn’t it?”

In the movie, one standout biker character is Zipco, a Latvian immigrant who had a lengthy conversation with Lyon during his hospitalization following a motorbike accident caused by drunkenness. A passage from the book is brought to life in a scene where Zipco fiercely expresses his disappointment over being denied entry into the Army.

In black leather and ragged hair, with a thick coating of grime, Michael Shannon brings the character of Zipco to life. According to Lyon, his portrayal is nothing short of extraordinary. “He perfectly embodies Zipco,” she says. “He slobbers like him, he looks like him, and he even smells like him. And to this photographer character, who seems insignificant to him, Shannon’s Zipco speaks.”

Lyon continues to be amazed, expressing, “Jeff transformed the book into this movie – an impressive feat.” Last week, Lyon went to the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for the premiere and shared on Instagram a photo of Butler on the red carpet with the caption, “From Hyde Park, Chicago 1965 – hard to believe!”

“The Bikeriders” is only one part of Lyon’s intriguing life story. His experiences documenting the Texas prison system, journeying through South America, and other exciting adventures could also make compelling films. These possibilities have not been overlooked.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve pondered over this idea. I haven’t actively worked on it yet, but imagine the potential for an engaging series based on his extraordinary story.

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2024-07-18 18:52