In this video, we’re diving into the original nine members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club – also known as “The First Nine.” These guys were the foundation of SAMCRO, the club that eventually became the heart of the show. Before settling in Charming, California, they got their start in Northern California in 1967. The show’s creators, including Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman, even approved a spin-off focusing on their backstory, titled The First Nine Prequel. So, who were these First Nine? They were the founding members of SAMCRO, and they set up shop in Charming after starting out in Northern California. John Teller, one of the key figures, was a man with big ideas. He had strong, idealistic beliefs and thought that the Sons could go down a different path, one that didn’t revolve around guns and violence. As a war veteran who had seen the worst of the Vietnam War, John returned home with a deep sense of what peace, freedom, and liberty really meant. These experiences shaped his views and made him passionate about bringing these principles to the club. John was more than just smart; he was street-savvy too. He could see the trouble brewing if the club got involved with gun running and, eventually, he started to think the Sons had lost their way. He was willing to make big sacrifices, even his life, to steer them back on track. Piney Winston, another founding member and close friend of John, shared his worries. Piney described John as a complicated guy – fiery and quick to react, but also really intelligent and loyal. However, sometimes John’s loyalty to the club made him overlook his own values, which wasn’t always a good thing. Even after John’s death, his influence lingered in the club. His writings – especially his manuscript, The Life and Death of SAMCRO – kept his ideals alive. They served as a reminder of what the club stood for in the beginning, and they continued to inspire some members, even those who never met him. John’s relationship with his son, Jax Teller, was tricky. Jax often clashed with his father’s ideals and struggled with what the club had become. But as he dug deeper into John’s life and beliefs, Jax started to understand his dad’s vision more clearly. Back in the 60s, John and his buddy Piney fought together in the Vietnam War as part of the 25th Infantry Division. They came home in 1967 to a country that had little respect for them and was in chaos. Facing discrimination and financial hardship, John and Piney wanted to hold onto the bond they’d built during the war. So, along with Lenny, they started the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club – a brotherhood built on loyalty and unity. In 1968, John set up the Sons’ clubhouse on Fairfield Road in Charming. He and Clay Morrow even started their own garage, Teller-Morrow Auto Service. But times were tough, and the Sons had to start dealing in the black market to get by – selling drugs and smuggled goods all around Northern California. Things took a tragic turn when John was hit by a semi-truck on November 11, 1993, dragged for 178 yards, and fought for two more days before passing away. His death left a huge mark on the club, and he left behind a legacy that no one could forget.