You can’t begin a discussion about the great TV dramas of the 2000s without mentioning Sons of Anarchy . Kurt Sutter’s motorcycle drama helped usher in the era of the anti-hero.
Below are 10+ completely random Sons of Anarchy facts that fans didn’t know.
Not only do they provide context, but they also help to reshape our opinions on certain characters and events.
*Sons of Anarchy* is one of the most popular, dramatic, and action-packed shows that has been done in a long time.
And although it is over, that doesn’t mean that people want to stop talking about it!
That’s what brings us to this list!
It’s time for fans to get acquainted with the most random facts about the show.
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Let us know at the end of the article which facts you knew about and which you didn’t!
1. Real members of the Hell’s Angels MC appeared as guest stars.
The SOA club members who have actually worn a Hell’s Angels patch are: Happy, Lenny “The Pimp” Janowitz, Quinn, and Frankie Diamonds.
Sonny Barger ( Janowitz ) was actually the President of the Oakland Charter.
2. “Bachman” is actually a pseudonym of Stephen King’s.
Stephen King was a longtime fan of the show. His character name, Bachman, is derived from Richard Bachman .
This was a pen name that King used early on in his career.
Sutter contacted King to play the part, and King had this to say about it:
“He assured me that he’d write me a suitably nasty part (in various films I’ve been stuck playing a series of mentally challenged country bumpkins); most important of all, he said he’d put me on a bitchin’ Harley. How could I say no?”
3. Tommy Flanagan’s scars are the real deal.
The scars on Chibs’ cheeks aren’t prosthetic. Actor Tommy Flanagan was really given a Glasgow Smile while he was out at a bar one night.
Flanagan was jumped, mugged, and left permanently scarred.
4. Ron Perlman didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle.
Ron spoke candidly during an interview and said,
“I gotta admit, I look pretty badass on the bike. Pretty sexy. Pretty gangsta. I also gotta admit… bikes don’t like me. And it’s mutual.”
5. Tig’s fear of dolls was influenced by Kurt Sutter.
Sons of Anarchy didn’t offer up many laughs over the course of the series, but the few we did receive came largely in-part thanks to Tig. His fear of dolls, known as pediophobia , was inspired by creator Kurt Sutter.
Sutter suffers from the same affliction.
6. The guest stars seriously rock.
You may have noticed a few members of the Rock ‘n’ Roll elite make their debut in Charming.
Marilyn Manson , Dave Navarro, Henry Rollins, and even Courtney Love have all made cameo appearances at one time or another.
7. Kurt Sutter wrote Gemma with Katey Sagal in mind.
“If you asked him, what he would tell you probably is when he came into my life, I already had two children , and he’s their stepparent, and I was very protective of my children.”
“He hadn’t been around that kind of energy quite so much, so I think that’s what was the springboard for Gemma.”
Honestly, I can’t picture anyone else in the role.
A+ casting.
8. Ron Perlman wasn’t always going to be Clay Morrow.
The role was originally offered to Scott Glenn, if you can believe that! Ron Perlman said of Scott Glenn:
“I’m a huge fan of his. But he’s a very subtle guy .”
“And he has a very kind of a quiet, understated presence about him, which, in terms of this particular guy, Clay Morrow, they were looking for way more dynamic.”
But we’re happy that Perlman ended up with the role.
9. Fans can’t help but give Charlie Hunnam knives.
It’s unsurprising to know that people have given him presents, as many celebrities (especially at conventions) get gifts from fans! But this is a dangerous one!
“I’ve been given a lot of knives,” he said.
“That’s a big thing in the biker culture, particularly in California, because as long as it’s not concealed, you’re allowed to carry a knife I think it’s a knife with a no longer than six inch blade.”
” Still, six inches is a pretty big knife!”
10. Katey Sagal was worried what audiences would think of her after Gemma killed Tara.
“When I first realized that Gemma was going to kill Tara, I had a moment like, oh [expletive], man, nobody’s going to wanna see Gemma again. She’s killing beloved Tara!”
11. Charlie Hunnam had a hard time letting go of Jax Teller.
“It was actually quite emotional for me, living and loving that guy for eight years, to have to finally put him to bed,” he told Glamour . “I found myself going back to set a lot.”
“I knew the security guards and for a couple of days said, ‘Oh, I forgot something’, so they’d let me onto the set, and I’d just walk around at night because I wanted to be in that environment and go through a personal process of saying goodbye.”
“After a couple of nights I didn’t really need the alibi to get in, and then after a while I just said, ‘OK, enough, this is done.'”
12. It wasn’t always going to be called *Sons Of Anarchy*.
The first working title for the series was Forever Sam Crow .
However, this was quickly abandoned because audiences had no ability to discern what the show was about from the title.
13. Kurt Sutter acts, writes, and directs!
Fans of the show will most likely recognize Sutter from his role as Otto Delaney .
He also is the creator, lead writer, and Kurt also directs every single finale – including the series finale as well.
14. Maggie Siff agrees that Tara was the moral center of the show.
I think it’s fair to say that Tara was definitely the moral character of the show. Is there anyone out there who would disagree?
She’s the healer, the person who people, even club members, can turn to for advice, and she keeps Jax straight.
“I think it’s interesting the way it’s developed because she definitely was the [moral center] of the show for a while.”
“I think Kurt used her as a window, through which the audience could experience the club and the life of the club.”
15. Kurt Sutter has his own version of the f-word for the show.
Even though Sons of Anarchy deals with a lot of sensitive topics and issues, the one thing they have to make sure they do is never say the f-word.
But Sutter has his own word for it.
“‘Jesus Christ’ is basically my [expletive], because I can’t say [expletive].”
“And there was one season where they were, like, counting my ‘Jesus Christs’ because somebody on the Fox food chain thought it was so blasphemous.”
16. Sutter is truly fascinated by motorcycle culture.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the irony of motorcycle clubs. Because they say they’re all about “ride free” and “fuck the establishment.” But within the structure of these outlaw clubs, there are more rules and regulations than you or I have,” he said.
“They’re like little military units. And I love the irony of that. I’ve been riding motorcycles since my early 20s, and I loved the hipness of the subculture.”
“So just honoring that, who they are and their philosophy. And I think what represents the Americana of it all, if you want to get heady about it, is this idea that no matter how greedy or obsessive our country can become, or how it is represented in the rest of the world, we’re really a nation that — when push comes to shove — we take care of our own.”
“That’s really part of the attraction of this show. Yes, it’s about family, but it’s also about community and village and the organization you belong to.”
That is truly why people love this show so much. There’s no other show like it.
17. At one point, *Sons of Anarchy* became FX’s highest rated show ever.
Honestly, it’s not very surprising considering the love people had for the show!
It had an average of 4.9 million viewers per week , which is insanity in the best possible way.
18. Katey Sagal is married to Kurt Sutter.
They met back in 2004 on a coffee date, got married, and ended up having a daughter.
Their scenes together on the show are full of chemistry, and it makes sense why!
19. Ron Perlman’s favorite part of season four was lying in bed.
“My favorite part of this season was when my character took two bullets to the chest. I spent the entire time in a hospital, lying around doing nothing, which is right in my field of expertise,” he said.
Do you know of any other random *Sons of Anarchy* facts? Or were all of these facts a complete surprise to you as you read?
Let us know your thoughts, or fun trivia facts, down below in the comments!
