Top Row from left to right 1 -Gilles 2- Rocky 3-Marcel Polidor 4-visitor from Ontario 5-his brother also from Ontario 6-Mick Rowan 7-Daniel Lemaire 8-Joseph "Sonny" Lacombe President 9-Regain 10-Carl Hannah 11-Michel "Frenchy" Veillette
Bottom Row 1-Mike French 2-Rod McLeod 3-J.P. 4- Pino 5-Robert Burroughs, aka Snoopy 6-Yvon Robert
The Montreal chapter of Satan's Choice started as a loose group of friends around 1967, many of whom did not initially own motorcycles.
When this photo was taken, probably in 1972, the gang did not have any particular unifying activity, so some made a little bit of money committing various petty misdeeds, including selling marijuana and LSD.
Some were on welfare and pretty much all of them barely scraped by.
The group ranged from brilliant intellectuals like Robert at the bottom right, to impulsive pugilists, like the oft-referenced Mike French on the bottom left.
Some of these men are still alive, others less so. Please help fill in the blanks and share stories.
Brian Powers, seen in this photo taken also around 1972, stood only about 5'8" but came with a mean streak. He started out as a kind person but soon became no stranger to committing murder.
He later joined the Outlaws and was at or near the top of its gang hierarchy when assassin Yves "Apache" Trudeau came to his home somewhere in the West End on Nov. 10, 1978 and shot him with seven bullets to the head from a 45 calibre handgun.
I have heard various stories about Powers that I would love to corroborate from independent sources, so please drop me a note if you knew him.
Brenda Van Rentlyn (correct spelling unknown) was the girlfriend of Michel Veiellette, who was in the gang at the time. I have about 16 other photos from this collection that I might publish her at some other time depending on feedback.
Yvon Robert, Daniel Lamarre and Rod McLoed on Dorchester just west of Atwater.
Daniel Lamarre
Yvon Robert
Rod McLeod seen kissing another Satan's choice guy. McLeod was not gay but this shot was meant to "shock and awe" according to his son who has the photo framed at his home.
I worked at the Mustache in Montreal circa 1973-1974. The Choice often frequented the bar, coming in for beer and the bands. Do not recall any trouble on the nights I worked.Lonfpg story short, I was friendly with a cocktail waitress from the Bali Hi? In Alxis Nihon Plaza, petite,slim, long dark hair, very pretty. Her boyfriend at the time was a Choice member, bearded,etc. They came into the bar together, on occasion, sat at the main bar, my bar.Cannot for the life of me remember her name, nor his. If anyone can confirm or shed some light on this?
ReplyDeleteWhen you say the Mustache, are you referring to Your Father's Mustache on Spring Garden Rd. in Dollard des Ormeaux?
DeleteMoustache on Closse, across from the Montreal Forum.
Deletei think #10 back row is carl hannah ..
ReplyDeleteThe correct spelling of the President is Sonny Lacombe, he was my father. Passed away September 13th, 2013 of pancreatic cancer.
ReplyDeleteHi Lyndzay, I am sorry to hear about you Dad. I never knew Sonny but I suspect he lived his life to the fullest. It is possible we crossed paths back in the day.
DeleteFrank
My condolences about your father passing...
DeleteHi Lyndsay, I never met your father but I played music with his brother Jerry Lacombe at the Pagoda bar on Notre dame street. He was buddy with Richard Cusson wich is still in the music business.
DeleteSorry to hear about your dad.
Which years was Sonny President?
DeleteHi all...great old memories. Sonny was the pres prior to '74. Rod was pres in 74 and Yvon was VP. Mike was Sgt of Arms. I hung with them at The Praque on Bishop (Maybe Mackay) and Poor Richards on Crescent. I had a Harley but no affiliation. Rob and Yvon were great friends. I'll relate a couple of stories. In the early days the guys were pretty tame not at all how it turned out.
DeleteYvon's mom had a restaurant in the North End that we went to a couple times a week. Yvon was a "Mommie's Boy". Really nice memories.
Rod called me one night around midnight and asked me for a favor. He had two girls at the bar in Chateau Champlain and Vice was unto them. Could I go down and get them out. I said sure, told my girlfriend to get dressed and took a cab down. In the elevator I looked at myself in the mirror...long leather coat with fur collar, jeans, gold chains, diamond on the pinky and thought WTF. Anyway too late we sat down with the girls had a few drinks and after Vice left we left. Mission accomplished.
I found myself in Parthanais one day with Bobby Chiu. (Unrelated issues) He told me Mike French was going to bail him the next day. I knew Mike and told Bobby to see if he had enough money for me too. ($1500.00). Next day I was bailed by Mike. He had good days and bad days. This was a good day for me. A few days later he showed up at my apartment and it was not a good day. He was in a foul mood and wanted the $1500.00. I didn't have it and wouldn't let him in. I knew he would knock me silly or worse. He screamed a few threats through the door and finally left. We sorted it out the next week and all was good.
These were great times before it all went sideways with the wars. About 10 years later I met Yvon again..he had a bar on Mountain above de Maisoneauve. Would love to know where they are now.
Top Left is Gilles (do not know his last name). I have a photo of Rocky & Danny that I took at a Karate Club on Stanley St. The Choice had a class just before ours. The teacher was Kaido.
ReplyDeleteKaido Was a legend!!! also the father of my sister.
DeleteTop Left is Gilles Martel sont chalet était en face de ma maison a Ste Sophie
Deletegilles martel as t' il déja demeurer rue st-martin petite burgogne
DeleteWhat I see in the group picture is a gang of bullies who ruined the lives of many families. Who knows how many people they murdered or raped? There is nothing glorious about this bunch. The biker credo is that they have each other's backs. They may not all have been psycho killers but they supported those that were.
ReplyDeleteYou can't paint everyone with the same brush. Just because you couldn't push them around does not mean they are all bullies. The 1% biker culture does not promote tree hugging. You have to ready for violence 24/7. It just comes with the territory. Most guys in the early days were good with their fists and drank beer. Most just scraped by and were mostly broke. They survived because they stuck together. It was called "Brotherhood." Things changed however and the Choice in Quebec entered into a bloody war!
DeleteGreat guys!!kneW a few
DeleteEnough said
MY NAME IS CINDY JAY- BARTON.MY DAD STAN THE MAN.when i came across this i nearly fell over my gosh,Brian was like an uncle to my siblings an self.my Dads best friend,I remember Frenchy, I believe number five is Charley. yea I remember a few of the guys,wish my dad was alive to see this pic,
DeleteI remember seeing Mike French at the former Maples Inn a lot during the early 70s.
ReplyDeleteOne time I was in a car with 5 other Choice. We were pulled over by police. Mike French was in the back seat and he was high on speed. He was carrying a gun and kept threatening to kill the police. It was just a routine stop. We hand a hell of a time convincing him to keep cool. It was scary to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your site and the pictures are fabulous, please publish more, this is response to your depending on feedback statement
ReplyDeleteIt could be that big Don Wilkinson might be a member there; I can't recognize him from te photo.
ReplyDeleteLike Mike French, I used to see Don all the time at the former Maples Inn; he asked me out, and a drinking buddy of mine warned me "Don't go out with Wilkinson; he's a biker!"
I knew Don Wilkinson for years, though. He ended up with a girl called Karen Dick. She had a brother called Frank. I'm not kidding.
I know Don Wilkinson well we always talk together He passed away in 2016 of Cancer
DeleteAnyone ever meet a member of the ol' Popeye gang at Pigeon Park during the hippie dippie daze?!
ReplyDeleteIn the early 70s, our neighbor's daughter hung out with the Choice. Her name was Marilyn C. I don't know which one was her boyfriend though. I remember some of the gang coming to pick her up. My mother hid drugs for them. Ah, the 70s, LOL
ReplyDeleteKaido Pontalian was a kujukenbo master.
ReplyDeleteIncrediable martial artist,was murdered.
I bel
Kaido Pontintan is a legend in the kujukenbo martial ats world.
I believe he was murdered.His son is caring n his legacy.
Thank you
K was killed by Tiger in a card game. Tiger was afraid K had caught him cheating. K shared teaching duties with Doc.
DeleteHi there, yes I remember going to watch my Uncle play late in the evening with my dad. Thanks for the condolences. Jerry has also passed away a couple of yrs ago also
ReplyDeleterememeber the Out Laws Sonny Lacombe included came into a club that I worked at ordered drinks and when I bought them to the table and put them down they said we are not paying.Sonny was in the washroom at the time.So I stood by the table and he came out sat down and I said Your the boss here I want to be paid..He looked all around not knowing how I knew and payed me...They left soon after...
ReplyDeleteI can remember a buddy telling me that Mom B. was a great guy and always joking, offered to introduce me and kept on about what a good guy he was. I said "I'm sure he's a great guy when he's not ordering some one's execution" and my friend choked on his food. My friend is now in the witness protection program due to strange circumstances. These bikers don't realize that it's the law that saves them! Think about it.
ReplyDeleteNobody talks about the bikes, but it is really cool to get to see those rides from the past
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone know Elsie w she used to hang out with them
ReplyDeleteElsie was my mom
DeleteHi! The last picture was taken by my uncle Ronald Labelle. This was from Chatelaine Magazine I think.
ReplyDeleteHey Clacker, Don is not in any of these pictures. For the record, he didn't end up with Karen Dick who had a brother, Frank. She's my best friend still after all these years. He ended up with Debbie for the last 40 years of his life. He was with me for about 4 years before Debbie. We have a son.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to Kaido Pontilian...I studied with him in Chinatown....great martial artist.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone know Wimpy
ReplyDeleteI was only 14('68) when I first met 2 from the Choice.they lived around the corner from me on Walkley AVE.lower NDG.one guy's name was called Frenchie with a gf named Monique.my buddie and I started dealing bud for him and would sometime meet him at a coffee shop on Sherbrooke near Guy.he sure loved his french toast with sugar I remember.one time Frenchy asked my buddy and I if we wanted to start a bicycle chapter as the Popeye's had one.he made some colours for us but after getting chased off the mountain by the Popeyes,we returned the jackets.met the president Sonny one time.believed he lived in cote des neige then.Frenchy took us their clubhouse near Atwater bus station but never went in.always waited nearby for him.nice guy and showed me a few things about bikes which they kept in their living room during the winter.quite a few years later,another buddy became president of an Ontario chapter but later quit from the heat the coke dealing brought to him and his chapter.my buddy and I hung out with Frenchie for almost a year and always treated us well but I also knew that things could get dangerous if one crossed them.Frenchie once told me that Sonny kept a jar of eyes from the people that did do just that.true or not, don't know.anyway,thanks for the article as it brought back some memories.
ReplyDeletehi.great article and pics.i remember Frenchy and another Choice member lived on Walkley AVE in lower NDG.i was14('68) and Frenchy would front an oz of pot to my buddy and i.first time dealing that as I was selling Lebanese at the time.they kept their bikes in their living room during the winter and he showed me a few things about bikes.real nice raked Harley he had.one time he asked us if we'd like to start a bicycle chapter as the Popeye MC had one.he got us colours made up.real cool! but returned them back after a couple of months when we got chased off the mountain by the Popeye BC chapter.i used to meet Frenchy at a coffee shop on Sherbrooke near Guy.he sure loved his french toast loaded with sugar.went with him a few times to their clubhouse near Atwater bus station but always had to wait nearby for him.met Sonny once when he lived in cote des neige.Frenchy told me Sonny kept a jar of eyes from people who had crossed him.true,I don't know.one of my best friends,years later was the president of an Ontario chapter.he quit after getting lots of heat from some of his members dealing in coke which my buddy was opposed to.anyway,this brought back lots of memories.thanks.
ReplyDeleteanyone ever heard or know anything about a gentleman named Alain Tessier
ReplyDeleteMy mother hang around the Outlaws and at one time was dating Sonny. My grandma told me an interesting story. Sonny came by her house and my grandma scolded him because I was a baby and didn't have the proper clothing or toys. Sonny came back to her house 2 hours later with loads of brand new baby clothes and toys. Seems like a good man at heart. Sorry to hear that he passed. He wasn't even my father.
ReplyDelete