Two GayLords with Sweaters, behind is a Palmer Street Mural\The sweaters are:Palmer Street Gaylords Sweater, MLD with a IG Patch, and a Spanish Lords sweater. "1984"

Hey Wolfy,
I lived on Palmer the
same time you did.
(Lane '76) Did you
know Charlie and the
Mason brothers?

I LIVED ON DAMEN AND DIVIDION FOR YEARS.I WAS A MEMBER OF THE WARLORDS FOR 20 YEARS.I THOUGHT THE GYLORDS WERE RACIST TOO.BUT WE WERE ALL RACIAL SH_T BACK IN THE 70S.I GOT ALONG WITH SOME OF THE WEST SIDE GAYLORDS THAT I KNEW AND AFTER THE 5 WAS STARTED UP I HUNG WITH SOME OF THE GL ONCE IN A WHILE.I AM 100% BORICUA AND PROUD.I DONT THINK THE GLN WAS ON A GENOCIDE TRIP.BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY IS THAT THE THE CRACK AND H IS RUINING OUR PEOPLE MUCH FASTER THAN IT IS RUIN THE WHITES.I KNOW THERE ARE GL THAT ARE ON DRUGS BUT I CAN NAME AT LEAST 30 OA THAT ARE DOPE FIENDS I G TOO AND KINGS AND SD SOME OF OUR GUYS GOT HOOKED ON THAT SH_T TOO.SO TO SAY THAT THE GL WERE THE BIG BUYERS OF THAT IS LAUGHABLE.THE FOLKS F%$KED UP ALL THEIR HOODS.WE SPLD SOME WEED AND MAYBE SOME POWDER IN THE BARS BUT WE IDNT RUIN OUR HOOD WITH DRUGS.GANGS TODAY ESPECIALY THE FOLKS ARE ABOUT SELLING DRUGS THERE IS NO MORE HONOR OR LOYALTY TO THE GANGS ALLIES.AMOR TO THE ALMIGHTY GAYLORDS AND INSANE UNKNOWNS AND SPANISH LORDS.FAST EDDIE-DAMEN AND EVRGREEN/WICKER PARK WARLORDS 1978-1998

IT HAS BEEN 11 YEARS THIS MONTH SINCE LORD BEAR PASSED AWAY. IT IS A SHAME THAT OUR NATION HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY DRUGS, AND INTERNAL BATTLES. I WISH FOR THE REMAINING ACTIVE GAYLORDS TO REPRESENT US PROUD AND FIGHT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT TRY TO HOLD US DOWN. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT IF THE DRUGS DIDNT INFILTRATE OUR WEAK STATE OF MINDS, BEAR MIGHT STILL BE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH WAR, AND SEEN BLOOD SHED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR OWN, DYING OVER PIPES AND NEEDLES THATS WHERE OUR FAMILY NEEDS THE MOST SUPPORT. NOT ANOTHER LINE OF CHINA. IF YOU WANT TO GET GEEKED UP ON A DAILY BASIS THEN COME OVER TO MY CRIB SO I CAN PUT A BULLET IN YOUR HEAD AND YOU CAN STOP WASTING EVERYONES TIME! IF YOU HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH THIS MESSAGE JUST LEAVE A REPLY AND I WILL COME AT YOU WITH THE RAGE THAT YOU DESREVE! INSANEGQ..... BEAR
LIVES!!!!!

Rocker, I just finished your book, and as an original Lawndale Lord and Gaylord, I was very impressed. What we started back then sure lasted it a long time. I lived in the apartment building on the s/w corner of L/A and hung with some righteous brothers. I went to Lane and hung at Lennies and met many Stoned Greasers and bangers from all the gangs there. The book brought back many old memories, some good and otherwise. I see many old freinds posting here and am glad you have this site. Those days are years in the past, but are a part of all we are today. It's called the crucible of life. The fire tests all who enter and we are what's left afterwards. Having gone through those times and experiences are what the book's about. For those who have never lived that life, be glad! Those of us who've be there and done that, we'll always share that common bond that others will never understand. This is a bond that all bangers have no matter what hood you were in, it's all the same. For us it'll always be a Nation of Lords. Hunts

Hey it's great to see some familiar names. I see the site has been revamped lately. Butch? As in ******? Good to see you're still alive Brother. Me & Wino from Palmer Street are still tight and keep in touch regularly. We have great laughs while going over this site and remembering the good old days. Anyone remember Joe ****** from Kilbourn Park? We're still close too and he turned me on to this site. We're all from the early to mid 70's era and former patrons of Lennie's. Man, those were the days! Does anyone know if Frank & Rose are still alive? What about Cookie? Stay well Brothers and keep on truckin! -Fred B- AKA Wolfy

I remember being in Lennie's in '74 when a Spanish Lord named Blockhead came in looking to talk about a sweater the Gaylords had taken from their members. We were talking with him about a trade, their sweater for one of ours when all of a sudden about 15 of them came rushing in swing bats and tire jacks. The fight was on with Frank and Rose screaming to "take it outside". It was over in a minute and they ran out. There were only minor injuries with the greasers and I'm sure some with the Spanish Lords. The fight with the Popes was the same, they came lokking for trouble, but found more than they could handle. This was Lennies, all the greasers would unite to fight any common enemy that came looking for trouble, because they always got it from everyone. Shame that it couldn't have stayed that way.

i just came across your website cause it was on classmates.com i will get your book a.s.a.p. i remember all you a**-wholes! boy do you take me down memory lane. do any of you guys from lawndale remeber a guy buy the name of "camel" who grew up on fullerton and hamlin between 85-92? if so what happened to that ****head? i know he always got his ass kicked buy the gaylords.

I heard an accusation being made by another gang information web site, that this web site is stealing their photos or maybe other material from their sites.Well, please dont tell me its Jinx of Chicago Hoodz, cause theres nothing really related to Gaylords to spark ones interests in to confistcating anything. Ithink he has one GL picture and this site recieved that from Joker-GL, just like Jinx did. If its the Freak site, well quite a few material was basically given or taken with an understanding of acceptance of this procedure. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS SH_T DOES NOT MAKE IT A PRACTICE OR MISSION OF STEALING.

lil dillinger, class of 74.I lived around hamlin and wilson all my life...we might know each other..e mail me back OLD SCHOOL PALMER STREET GAYLORDS

Great book Rocker. I
could not put it down.
Your writing brought me
back to a time far
removed from these past
years of raising my kids
in the suburbs. It really
made me reflect on
where I came from. This
book is more proof that
the Gaylord legacy gets
stronger through the
successful and
meanfingful endeavors
that this story provides.

I was representing long
before this story takes
place but it was still very
relevant. I can't relate my
experiences to the
people that I associate
with now. So this book
and this site provides an
outlet to share our past.

Thanks again,
Formerly Lil Dillinger,
Hamlin and Wilson
Gaylords, Class of 74
Old Greaser

like the card used to
read compliments, just
getting the book and
am trilled to read it,
again compliments
Rocker : Remember the
days when the lot was
full, could not wait
for the day when I
could start hanging
with the bangers;
REmemeber when Kato
gave me a hard time in
76 before he hooked up
with J . R. and the
st. louis crew later
on . Devil you still
owe me from when i
saved your ass on
montecello that night,
How is the hammer ,
link , lil link
pierre and lil
pierre ,Tell the
munchkin brothers i
was a better football
player then them. When
it came to who was the
best no doubt about it
LiL squirrel, Riis,
lil greek,RED from
kilbourn, hammer link
Squirrel, DEvil and
and of course
me. " great book "
L/A Forever Forever
L/A / K /P Troop ST.
best wishes to all and
God bless "lil Riis"
a.k.a. / Ripper

Lawndale Forever,
Forever lawndale,
Psyco, Capp, Kato,
Live : Ripper

Great book Rocker. I could not put it down. Your writing brought me back to a time far removed from these past years of raising my kids in the suburbs. It really made me reflect on where I came from. This book is more proof that the Gaylord legacy gets stronger through the successful and meanfingful endeavors that this story provides. I was representing long before this story takes place but it was still very relevant. I can't relate my experiences to the people that I associate with now. So this book and this site provides an outlet to share our past. Thanks again, Formerly Lil Dillinger, Hamlin and Wilson Gaylords, Class of 74

Funny how you use the American Indians as a parallel to the GayLord struggle. Too bad you just made a case for hypocracy considering the fact that you Anglo-White invaders were the ones who killed off the poor Indians. And now what was done to them was done to you on a smaller scale. Thats not even the worse part about it....considering that ethnically Gaylords were primarily Italian...in the early part of the 20th Century, when you guys yourselves were "immigrants"..YES, YOU GUYS WERE ONCE IMMIGRANTS, you guys went through the same kinds of oppression from Anglo-Protestant (KKK...and other organizations) that didn't want you greasers just as much as you didnt want our kind in Chicago. You would think that through that struggle, Italians would have learned something about acceptance and the importance of diversity. Instead, you guys "sold out" to become the neo quasi- Americans that would ultimatley NEVER gain you Americanism within the eyes of the Anglo- Protestants. So now you guys will all be immortalized historically as a racist movement no different from that of the KKK. What a legacy! For the record: the only "TRUE" American were the American Indians....not the Italians/Irish or neo- Anglos. (Im assuming you wont post this on your website, but as long as my voice was heard from inside the struggle...mission accomplished) Que VIVA PUERTO RICO !!!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR RESPONSE:


YES, YOU MAY HAVE A POINT THERE. THE INDIANS DID HAVE A STRUGGLE. BUT THAT AGAIN IT WAS USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH AT THE TIME, NOT COMPARING TO WHAT THE INDIANS WENT THROUGH IN THEIR TIME.

OUR STRUGGLE WASN'T AGAINST THE PUERTO RICAN, MEXICAN, OR LATINOS. OUR STRUGGLES WERE WITH THE TRASH THAT WANTED TO INVADE OUR HOMES AND TURN EACH CORNER INTO A DRUG PIT, WITH PROSTITUTION, DISEASED JUNKIES THAT WAS BROUGHT IN WITH THE MIGRATION OF SOME OF THESE SUCH GROUPS. I MEAN LOOK AROUND THE LATINO AREAS TODAY. HUMBOLDT PARK IS SHAPING UP TODAY BECAUSE THE YUPPIES ARE BUYING IT UP. NOT BECAUSE YOUR PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO PRESERVE WHAT WAS CLAIMED, YOU DESTROYED MUCH OF THIS AREA WITH A PLAGUE OF JUST NOT CARING ABOUT YOURSELVES, SOON YOUR HOOD WILL BE GONE TOO, A DISTANT MEMORY OF WHAT YOU HAD. INSTEAD, YOU STAND AROUND THE PARK DRINK, SMOKE, SHOOT, AND KILL, WHILE YOU LOOSE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES.

SO, I CAN SEE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THIS A RACE THING AND BRINGING IN HISTORY OF 200 YEARS AGO SUCH AS THE AFRICAN AMERICANS LIKE TO DO. BUT SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THEM THAT AFRICA WASN'T CONQUERED TO TAKE THE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM SLAVES, THEY WERE SOLD BY THE TRIBAL MASTER. YES, THEIR KING.

THERE WERE MANY SPANISH PEOPLE THAT FELT SAFE LIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH US WHITEYS, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN FEAR OF THEIR KIDS TURNING OUT TO BE DRUG ADDICTS. YES, WE DRANK AND SMOKED WEED, BUT WE WERE'NT SHOOTING UP OR MAKING DRUG OPERATIONS OUT OF OUR HOOD. NO, THAT WAS WHAT WAS GOING ON ALL AROUND US, YES SOME PEOPLE GOT HURT ALONG THE WAY AND THAT IS REGREATABLE, BUT, IN A MILLION YEARS YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE WHAT I SAW THROUGH MY EYES OR EVEN UNDERSTAND IT. SO, YOU CAN SIT THERE AND MAKE YOUR IMMIGRATION SPEECHES SOUND LIKE YOU WERE SO OPPRESSED.
WHY IS THERE A MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN EVERY CORNER IN THE SUBURBS? WHERE IS THE PUERTO RICAN ESTABLISHMENTS? I'LL TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE, ON DIVISION AVE GETTING EATEN AWAY BIT BY BIT BY THE YUPPIES THAT NOW OWN YOUR REAL ESTATE. WHO STOOD IN YOUR WAY TO MIGRATE TO THE SUBURBS, EXPAND AND OPEN SUCH BUSINESSES? I'LL TELL YOU, YOUR OWN PEOPLE DID. AFRAID TO TAKE A CHANCE.

YOU WANT TO HEAR OF STRUGGLE? STRUGGLE WITH WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH.
AND YES, I DID POST YOUR BLOG MESSAGE AND HERE IS YOUR REPONSE

AMERICANISM, HMMM WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THAT. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE IT, BUT MANY OF YOU DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WE CAN DO WITHOUT, DON'T LIKE IT, GET OUT, GO HOME AND BITCH FROM THERE.

IN NO WAY ARE THESE WORDS GEARED TOWARDS A RACE OF PEOPLE.
THE GAYLORD NATION IS NOT MADE UP OF RACIST NAZIS, WE ARE A DIVERSIFIED GROUP MADE UP OF MANY ETHNICITIES, THE MAJORITY BEING WHITE. GO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AS TO HOW MANY GAYLORDS WE'RE LATINO AND YES EVEN AMERICAN INDIAN.
WE WERE AGAINST A LIFESTYLE THAT CREATED DECAY TO THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.

THERE IS YOUR TRUTH,
THERE IS YOUR STRUGGLE,
SO DEAL WITH IT.

Holy sh_t - how did I ever find this page? - damn friggin popup ads for 'classmates.com' when I checked my personal email I guess,
and like a dumbass - ya, I registered.
So naturally I followed the Lennies/greaser links....
Anyway I was a freshie although not a greaser in 70'.
In 71' I became a greaser because most of my friends were, and if a greaser, well then why not a gang member?
I still remember my initiation (Reinberg School Gaylords) - I had to fight two guys for 2 minutes ('Wop' from R/S and Fed 'Wolfie' later from Chi-West). I held my own but needless to say, I was a mess.
Upon entering Lennie's to clean up in that sorry excuse for a john, Frank (the owner) and his wife looked horrified (guess I must have been a mess) -
but what did I care, I was 'made'!
The one stinking time we cut class to hang out at Lennies - the cops raided the place acting as truant officers!
Although I had my class ID I told the cop I didnt and gave him a made up name and address (for Wrigley field I beleive - long before John Belushi in Blues Brothers).
How dare them coppers defile our place like that.
I used to hang around with Mark (Wenz) ****, John (The Greek) *********, Mark (Shorty) *****, and Jim (Jimbo) *****, minor hoodlums in their own regards but the best guys in the world.
It was the best of times - we were friggin kings! - and ya I was a campus guard, all freaks coming back from Jack in the Box we caught smoking got busted big time.

After a 23 year stint in the Army, more degrees than a thermometer, only 1 marriage, and no convictions - I guess I turned out OK.
Best Regards - grease thang!

Marc (Slob) *****

Rocker I lovethe web site it brings me back to when we would all be hangin on Ridgeway and Lil Rocker was still alive. My brother and him use to kick my ass all the time for trying to hang with them then one day we started up the Slylords again. You were like no sh_t and you gave me my name Lil Mischief I have always respected you as an older Lord and looked up to you. I am in the the Army now been in for 12 year and with my job being the army can easily relate to when were were bagin back then because the guys you fight with are the guys you have to trust. Everytime I come home i drive bye my old house on wrightwood and monticello and i get very depressed that the hood has changed so much. Godbless and GL all way.

Respect to the Gaylord
Nation!

The first time I met any Gaylords was about 35 years ago. Tho' I wasn't from
their 'hood, and didn't know them very well, whenever we got together they showed me their hospitality and we had good times. Straight-up hardcore Greasers!

Some years later, I met other Gaylords standing tall under some pretty heavy
circumstances. They stood up for me, and I stood up with them. I'll never forget that. (Gip, you know you saved my life-I hope to God you're okay)

Now, decades later, thru this site, I've met other, younger (than me, at least)
Gaylords. I have seen first hand that the years have not changed the concepts of Respect, Honor, and Loyalty that those Gaylords demonstrated to me 35 years ago. Still true Stone Greasers! I thank all of the men (and Women) who have greeted me with friendship here. It is not a small thing in todays world, and it means a lot to me.

Talking to all of the older GL here reminds me again of how much experience and wisdom there is in the Gaylords collective history. I hope that all of you older GL, retired or not, realize that you have something to contribute to the kids coming up now. Respect, Honor. Loyalty. Show them how to live it. The days of defending the corner may be over, but there is still a place for an organization that can instill pride in our kids, teach them to live good lives, and point them the right way. That could be the hardest fight you ever had-and one we can't afford to lose.

God bless you all, and remember, never be ashamed of your service, never let anyone tell you it was wrong, and never forget what being a Greaser was all about!

Stone Grease Power!

StoneGreaser

The best days of my life were hanging at Lennies.This place was a known gang hangout for the likes of the Lawndale and Kilborne Gaylords the Symon City Royals, Insane Popes, Chi-West,C-Notes, Jousters,RiceBoys,Playboys,Ventures and Stone Greasers.The blacks and latinos never ventured there for lunch.I was a student at Lane Tech H.S. and this was the hangout for me for all 4 years.I was a campus guard as all the greasers were made campus guards by our principle. Man it sure beat study hall.By the time I was a senior I had worked my way up in my gang and now ran with all the gang in Lennies.My last year was a little ruff as we lost several members and the latinos were making a move with the blacks to control Lane.I recall having a fight in gym with a black student during gym,over a ball rolling on there side of the gym. This fight was easily broken up by several gym teachers, but words were exchanged. i recall using the n word several times.Well several day later I was walking down the hall after playing softball on campus when I again met this fool. Well this negro thought I had brought a bat in school to beat him with.I told this fool i didn't need a bat to beat his ass. Well the 2 guys with me were from Chi-West and the Lawndale Gaylords and before I could hit this fool Greek from Lawndale Gaylords hit him.This large older guy from Chi-West pick him up over his head and threw him into some lockers. the teachers came running down the hall and we just walked away. my friends left the building and ten minutes later I was in security room with gang crimes.Well he claimed that there were 20 of us and we beat him with a bat and was crying saying this was a racial attack.The next day we had several all black school at Lanes front doors.The police recovered several guns from them and there were several hundred blacks wanting to fight.Well you know how us Greasers are we also gathered several hundred guys and had every white gang in the city there for the big show down.Man it was the talk all day in the school and many kids left school early or didn't even go. Well we attacked each other but there was so many cop there that not many people got a real chance to fight.The next day I was arrested and charged with 7 counts of battery. The cops arrest only me. I sat there laughing at these kids parents and said I beat them all up ?Oh well I just called by club and they picked me up and paid my bond. When it came to court they never showed and the case was dropped.I told them you know now you can't go to Lane anymore and order them beat on site. The next day all the latinos who were from gangs like the Latin Lovers and Spanish Lords were beat and told to leave Lane. The following day we waited at ever door and beat all of them as they left Lane. The next day I was arrested again for 12 counts of battery.All I can say is the Gaylords keep that school safe for them rich white kids who would never made it through school if we had allowed these other gangs to exist. Just look what happen to Kelvin Park,Taft,Proser, and others. That why there will alway be Gaylords.Remember god forgive Gaylords don't. The class of 1977 Lane Tech gaylords

I married a Moffat St. GL and grew up with SCR's My whole life. I enjoyed this website, cant wait to show my husband. Growing up in Chicago, gangs couldnt be avoided, not on my street and no matter
the purpose and the outcome I have and had many friends that are or were in a gang. Nice to see someone putting forth the effort to put somekind of meaning to our past. Jodi

Well put Butch,

Although the Gaylord
name is a unifying
umbrella for all
generations, I also
get the impression
there are differences
in what the Gaylords
represented in every
period.
I can only speak of
the late sixties and
early seventies.
That time frame to me
represented a
necessary evil of
gang life driven by
the need to
survive. I can
assure anyone, that
living on Palmer and
having to go to Latin
King dominated
neighborhood for
grade school or
playing basketball
(in a Richard Daley
failed program to
keep the gangs off
the streets) only to
see your friends
shot/killed or end up
in Statesville was
not a romantic or
glamorous lifestyle.

These days when I sit
on my deck sipping a
scotch, smoking a
cigar and telling
stories to friends, I
can afford to
romanticize that
lifestyle a bit â ¦.but
only because no
matter how long or
how far removed from
Palmer, it has in
many ways defined who
I am today.

Max

First, I want to say -- Great book and Great website! It shows that the same hard times were shared by each and every generation of Gaylords out there.
I have been reading the Speakout messages regarding the history and future, how being a gang member was bad and how our kids should not be in gangs, etc. etc. etc. . . Let me put in my two cents worth.
I had a younger brother who my mother always told me "don't let him hang around with your friends (a.k.a. the Gaylords) b/c he will get hurt." So, I took it to heart and did not
encourage my brother to hang out on Lawndale with me even though he badly wanted to. He even stole my sweater one day and was proudly wearing it in a bad neighborhood. A few Lawndale guys and I had to go hunt him down to tell him how dumb it was and bring him home safely. After pushing him away, he started hanging out with some neighborhood kids drinking and smokingpot with no purpose at all. Then, on January 10, 1983, a fire broke out at one of my brother's "friend's"
houses. My brother's "friends" left him passed out on a couch to die.
The fact that I didn't let my brother become a Gaylord is the Cross that I will have to bear the rest of my life.
I know my friends and fellow gang members from Lawndale would never leave me in a fight or a fire under any circumstances and they have proven it over the past 30+ years we have been hanging
together. Me, for one, will never regret being a Lawndale Gaylord b/c of the friendships and the
purpose it gave us back then -- and the friendships I have now. Even today, we all still hang out together.
I will always be proud to say
DeviLAWNDALE FOREVER, FOREVER LAWNDALE! l

GL PATCH

CLICK LINK BELLOW

IMG_0003.JPG

I'D LIKE TO PUT TO REST THE GLAMOURIZATION OF THE GAYLORDS. SADLY THESE ARE MISFORTUNATE EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SHOULD NEVER BE REPEATED. IF SOMEHOW THIS TRAGEDY OF GANG LIFE CAN BE AVOIDED BY YOUNG PEOPLE I FEEL LIKE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT IT IS. WE FOUGHT OUT OF NECESSITY AND NOW IT SEEMS AS IF THE NEW GENERATION FIGHTS OUT OF CHOICE. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO FOLLOW IN OUR FOOTSTEPS WHEN OUR FOOTSTEPS TRACKED SO MUCH TRAGEDY, BLOOD, AND DEATH THROUGH OUR DOORSTEPS. THIS WEBSITE WAS MADE FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES, AND BY NO MEANS INFLUENTIAL PURPOSES. THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IS: DOES THEIR CAUSE DIFFER NOW THEN OURS DID THEN? WHAT IS OUR REASONING FOR BEING ON THIS SITE? I HOPE ITS TO GUIDE OUR YOUNGER GENERATION ON TO THE RIGHT PATH OPPOSED TO OUR PATH. -BUTCH St/A G/L

Wow , What a blast so many years later to know you have recorded our lives as kids in the hood.Although i being female, was there day & night ,through it all .Watched good friends sent off to heaven(Bless them all) Seen the heartache,shared the joy.Looking back it seems like just yesterday,although we are now all grown & have families of our own.The days ,the memories, Good & Bad times .You will all be remembered, Always .... You were my childhood! Blessed Be! Shar

About five months ago, it was learned that a certain gentleman had been working on a book about Chicago street gangs. He had been working on this book for many years. For some reason, he shelved the book or put it the side, and moved on with other things in his life.
After discussions with him, it has been decided to actually go ahead and get the book published. We realize that there may be others that may be working on the same type of project, but we believe this book to have historical content that other books may lack. This is not the real issue though. The book's text is completely done and because of this, there is no point in letting the book just sit around and go to waste.
We are now asking anyone with any photos of Chicago street gangs, gang murals , gang grafitti or gang sweaters or such, to please send the photos on to us. If you have any actual gang sweaters, entire photo collections or gang card collections, we would be interested in buying them. Please contact Us for futher information. Thank you.

ROCKER MAJOR PROPS ON BOOK,AS I LOOK ON THIS SITE IT SEEMS YOU TOUCHED A FEW NERVES WITH IT!SO WHAT!WE WERE AND STILL ARE AGLN. IF WE ALL WROTE A BOOK THERE WOULD BE MANY STORIES DIFFERENT THAN YOURS OR MINE. MY KIDS AND I JUST WENT THROUGH 4 BACK TO BACK HURRICANES AND TELL YOU THIS YOUR BOOK WAS THE ONLY THING KEEPING MY MIND STRAIGHT AND FOCUSED ON MY TASKS ATHAND, MY 10 YR OLD IS NOW READING IT AND LIKES IT AS WELL AS WE ALL SHOULD. AFTER THESE STORMS I WOULD TAKE THOSE BANGIN DAYS AND STOMPPIN FOLKS ANYDAY!THANKS FOR BRINGING ME HOME ROCKER.
SGLN WOLFMAN

I AM WRITING THIS FOR ALL TO READ , WEATHER THEY AGREE OR DIASAGREE WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I'VE READ ROCKERS BOOK, AND ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY GAYLORD IN OUR NATION , IT SPEAKS FOR THE ONES THAT WENT THROUGH HIS STORY.

YES, THERE WERE GAYLORDS IN THE 70'S THAT WENT THROUGH THEIR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, AND I GRIEVE FOR THEM AND AM SORRY FOR THEIR LOSSES.
BUT, THIS BOOK TAKES PLACES IN THE 80'S. THIS TIME FRAME WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE YEARS PAST. MAYBE BATTLES WERE FOUGHT IN A DIFFERENT WAYS AT THIS TIME AS WELL, BUT IT WAS STILL A WAR.

I FEEL THAT THESE KIDS.( I CHOOSE TO CALL THEM MEN) WERE IN DEED FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEIR WAY OF LIFE PROVIDED THEM, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS WHEN THEY LEFT THE STREET AND WENT INTO THEIR HOMES, AND SAW THEIR MOTHERS COOKING , OR HELPING WITH THE CHILD'S HOMEWORK, HAVING FAMILY DINNERS, CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY PARTY, OR JUST WATCHING T.V. IT WAS THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
SOMETHING THAT THEY CHERISHED.
WHEN THEY SAW A THREAT TO THIS THEY WENT TO THE STREETS AND ACTED ON WHAT THEY WHOLE HEARTEDLY BELIEVED WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BREAK THEIR FAMILY APART.
EVENTUALLY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DID CHANGE, FACES CHANGED AND PEOPLE CHANGED. THE FRIENDS THAT LIVED IN THE HOUSES THAT YOU WERE SO USED TO VISITING ALL THE TIME DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE. THE STREETS SEEM TO CHANGE MORE AND MORE AS THE DAYS WENT BY. OUR HOOD ISN'T THE HOOD WE ONCE KNEW, IT HAS CHANGED, IT HAS GONE WITH THE TIMES TO SOME OTHER PLACE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S TIME.

WE SO CHERISHED OUR GRADUATIONS, HOMECOMINGS, WEDDINGS AND EVERY JOYFUL EVENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE COULD REMEMBER. THEY WERE JOYFUL AND WONDERFUL EVENTS. BUT AS THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE HOOD STARTED SO DID THE REALIZATION THAT THIS WASN'T THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ONCE KNEW. THE CHANGES STARTED TO TAKE PLACE. OUR FAMILY WAS GONE, THE FACES CHANGED, THE PEOPLE WERE DIFFERENT, OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ...WE'RE GONE.

AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO HANG ON TO THE PAST, WE DON'T CONTROL TIME.

FOR THIS I WOULD LIKE THANK THE AUTHOR OF "LORDS OF LAWNDALE" FOR GIVING US THE FEW MOMENTS IN TIME BACK, TO THE PLACE THAT WE CHERISHED THE MOST. "LAWNDALE'' MY HOME , OUR HOME, TO THE PLACE THAT I CAN ONLY DRIVE PAST TODAY AND SAY..."THIS WAS MY HOME, THIS IS WHERE I GRADUATED,THIS IS WHERE I HAD MY WEDDING, THIS IS WHERE I KISSED MY FIRST LOVE, THIS IS WHERE MY FRIENDS DIED.
THIS IS "LAWNDALE"

GOD BLESS OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR BEING WITH US AT EVERY MOMENT IN TIME IN OUR TIRALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
MAY HE BLESS THE FALLED ON ALL SIDES AND MAY WE FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO OUR WAY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

ALMIGHTY GAYLORDS NATION ALWAYS
AND FOREVER,...AND TO EVERYONE ELSE....
PEACE BE WITH YOU.
GOD BLESS ALL MY BROTHERS

Hey Rocker. After
waiting almost two
weeks for your book,
I finaly got to read
it. It was a great
book! I congratulate
you. Your story is no
more different than
mine except that we
had different
beliefs. You Gaylords
had to protect what
was yours while we
Imperial Gangsters
had to fight to claim
ours. I use to think
that Gaylords were a
bunch of racists
whiteboys (No
offense), but after
reading your book,now
I know a lot better.
I've moved out of the
hood and now I'm
married and raising
two kids. I miss the
old neighborhood when
we use to have the
old fashion rumbles
and not this bullsh*t
drive by shootings.
Drugs,money, and
greed is what doomed
all our
neighborhoods. I've
said it once, and
I'll say it again, LA
Gaylords were some
bad Muthas back in
the days. Ralph "G"
IGN

I'm an older maniac
disciple from mozart
school and I remember
alot about the
gaylords from
lawndale and
fullerton. I also
remember the crazy
ass stoned yarders
from springfield and
fullerton.Alot of us
would travel to a
night club on
fullerton and pulaski.
It was hell trying to
get their and back
because we had to get
by lawndale and
fullerton which was
no easy task. once we
made it past there we
had to deal with the
stoned yarders who
seemed to be waiting
for us every weekend.
I know there weren't
as many stoned
yarders as there were
gaylords but they
were some down
brothers who never
seemed to back down.
You guys seemed to be
everywhere. Even down
at lake michigan we
had run ins with the
stoned yarders and
gaylords. If there is
or was anyone we
feared it was the
gaylords and stoned
yarders on fullerton
ave. you all deserve
your props and i'm
glad those of us who
made it through all
that can finally tell
our stories.

Jesus Christ had his critics too.
The Bible tells us that his reputation
was under constant attack by hypocrites
daily. These hypocrites were trying to
destroy a righteous man because of their
Jealousy and personal animosity over trival
nonsense.
No matter that Jesus was here to do good
things, others felt threatened by him and
their paraniod delusions and own agendas
seemed to over ride their rational thinking.
Sadly, in the end the hypocrites and bad critics won
and Jesus was crucified
Now, Im not claiming to be Jesus or God.
I'd be insane to say or think that. What I am
trying to get at here is that we must all
put away the evilness that we bring against righteous
People. Why do many of us feel the necessity
to bring others down who are doing righteously
productive things? Judge me by my fruit, my
deeds and how they benefit us all in the end and
not the outlandish rumors and gossip that others
willingly spread with no proof to their accusations.
Over the past ten years, I have had many false
unproven statements spread about my character. These rumors
seem to come hand in hand with the usage of hard core
drugs. Yes, I have had my own hypocrites, but I am
not angry with them. I choose to let them speak and be heard.
For my faith in God and righteousness itself shall save me from the
sharp snapping teeth of unruly, false men and their ways.
I close this post by saying, we all have the ability to be better people.
It is up to you if you wish to pull the inner strength from inside yourself to do this.
If you choose to do otherwise, that is on you. However, dont feel the need to bring
righteous people crashing down just to justify your own unrighteous agendas, it
just lowers yourself to level where others will eventally see your true nature and
separate you from their very lives.
PEACE( SOMETIMES THROUGH WAR), ROCKER

I haven't read your book yet but I am anxious to read it.This web site brings back good AND bad memories as the book will too I'm sure.I hung out at kilbourn park from 1980 until about 1994.no one has mentioned the girls that hung out at Kilbourn yet.We hung out from morning till night just as down as the guys,we represented,wore our colors and supported and represented for our neighborhood.we WERE like a family.But now that I'm an adult now and am much wiser.What exactally did we stand for? what was our cause? somebody explain to me why we had to see so many of our friends die and for what?we've been to too many funerals than one should be at before what should be our time.and somebody wrote in here that somebody's kids are Gaylords now and they act proud of it.Speaking as a parent myself I am appalled to hear that someone is proud of that.I use myself and their father as a bad example.as an example of what I don't want them to do.I am not prepared to plan my own childs funeral.I'm suppose to go before them and being in a gang the probability of them being first is good.and another thing some of the people in the memorial which I'm sure would have given their life for the Gaylords actually died from doing drugs.which ultimately resulted in Aids.I don't regret anything I have done,( and I suppose it's only because i'm still alive and okay to talk about it) although I don't agree with it.If that makes any sense.Pollack Bob I do want to thank you for everything you've done for me although I know you don't realize it.You have helped me a lot when Tony and I lived downstairs from you.You helped me more than you know.and till this day I think about it.Thank You!! and I'll see you in 3 weeks at the football game I look forward to seeing everyone..Michelle

i have nothing but love for the g/l's but i grew up on both sides, gangsters and gaylords. BUT you all know that TOMMY from i/gs was one crazy mother f_cker and we'll leave it at that. p.s. is tommy still alive?

rocker the book is great

I didnt know
to many FREAKS or
JOUSTERS,but the ones
I did know was all
good with me.and the
hole 20plus years I
been a GAYLORD its
been G-F-J-N got LOVE
for thoses
brothers...P-G-L JOKER

Great site! I lived on Palmer from 1967 â 1976. The Gaylords provided one of the last safe bastions for the white minority in Chicago. Nice to see that someone is keeping the memories
alive.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE
A RESPECTFUL SHOUT OUT
OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO
THE STONED + FREAKS +
NATION. THE FREAKS
ALLIED THEMSELEVS WITH
THE GAYLORDS UNDER THE
GFJ UNIFICATION YEARS
AGO AND I AM
PERSONALLY PROUD OF
THEIR ASSOCIATION WE THE GAYLORDS
THAT HAS TRANSGRESSED OVER THE
YEARSIN TO A TIGHT BROTHERHOOD
BETWEEN OUR TWO
NATIONS. I AM HONORED
TO HAVE THEM BY OUR
SIDE AND I PRAY NO
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL
DISPUTES OR
ALTERCATIONS EVER LEAD
TO THE SPERATION OF
OUR RIGHTEOUS UNITY.
***ROCKER

There is a correction to be made to one of the previous message from Capone of S/A

The first Lil Huster in his comments is actually Sir Hustler.

Gaylords Nation Update:

THIS SITE CONTAINS NEW PICTURES ON THE "MEMORIAL WALK TOUR ", "PALMER STREET" , "SEELIE AND AINSLE", AND "SWEATER" PAGES.
NEW UPDATES WILL BE POSTED AS THEY COME IN SO YOU DON'T MISS ANYTHING NEW COMING INTO THE SITE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES, FULL BLOWN MURALS, ART, CARDS, DRAWINGS PLEASE SEND US AN E-MAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE AND WE WILL TRY TO ADD TO THE SITE.

FACES WILL BE BLOCKED OUT OF ANY PICTURES, WE RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY


NEW LINK:


PALMER MURAL copy.jpg

I uses to live in LOMBARD,Ill back in the 70s and there was a pizza place there on main st.the place was always packed with real nice old cars and every one was dressed like the 50s they was GREASERS and WANDERERS there..does any one remember them?P-G-L JOKER

Ziggies, Lennies, Manor Bowl, Starlite Drive-In, Moishe Pippits, Steak-n-Egger on Archer, Skips on Mannheim, Playland Park in the summer, Marquette Park, wherever Greasers gathered, the Gaylords were respected.

To see your Nation coming back together gives me hope for the shorties out there today. Hopefully everyone can get past their differences and truly live the meaning of Nation.

Grease Power!

Hey Guys ! I love the book. Really has that "feel". But anyways the closest thing I could find to the old style sweaters was from Stewart and Strauss,expensive but really nice! Only
thing their missing is the belts. KP Professor

The Memorial Walk was a time to reflect on our cause, and our losses. I would like to thank the few others that went on the walk with me and I wish them well. With all of the onlookers
that day I felt a sence of respect and pride. Even when we walked through the old battle grounds everyone knew who we were, and for an hour we took the block back. Time is a funny thing, but I can promise that Gaylords will live forever, if not on the streets, then in our minds, spirits, and souls. R.I.P. Fallen GLN, and more power to the ones that are still fighting for our survival.

GQ