Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club (SSMC)

Introduction & Overview

The Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club (SSMC) is a small network of far-right motorcycle clubs active across the US, with some chapters found abroad. Originally claiming links to the Aryan Nations neo-Nazi movement, the SSMC offer security services to far-right rallies as well as operating as a means of socialisation for motorcyclists with far-right attitudes.

Eventually, the SSMC's links to the Aryan Nations were cut following accusations of unruly behaviour against SSMC members at recent far-right rallies. Following this separation, the SSMC largely fell out of the public eye, although the group still attends political events in the US. Although only a small organisation, the SSMC offers a unique insight into the legacy left by the popularisation of nazism amongst US motorcycle clubs, a trend which has largely been extinguished by law enforcement. 

History & Foundations

The SSMC was founded by Dennis Michael McGiffen in 2010. A long-term right-wing extremist, McGiffen was charged in 1998 under weapons violations, as well as for planning to rob banks and bomb government buildings (Keenan, 2014). McGiffen's activity before his involvement in the SSMC extended further into the extremist/criminal space, having been again sentenced to 6 years for conspiring to rob a bank in 2005, as well as rising to the rank of grand dragon of the KKK (Morlin, 2014). 

McGiffen's foray into extremist activity began with his exposure to the activity of right-wing terrorists such as Bob Matthews, leading to McGiffen taking on the position that standard racist tactics, such as those used by the KKK, had become "too tame" (Keenan, 2014). Under this new perspective on racist praxis, McGiffen founded the "New Order" in 1997 (Keenan, 2014), largely inspired by the notorious far-right terrorist organisation, "The Order", that was dissolved by law enforcement in 1984 (Morlin, 2014). 

The "New Order" set about stockpiling weapons and making plans to bomb the SPLC and assassinate the organisation's leading face in terms of legal prosecution, Morris Dees. However, before the plan could be put into play, a member attended a speech made by Dees whilst carrying a gun, leading to their arrest and the arrest of four other members (Keenan, 2014). 

Following the completion of McGIffen's various prison sentences, he quickly set about building relationships between the SSMC and other far-right movements across the US through various rallies and events (SSMC Website). These efforts came to fruition a couple of years after the group's foundation, when the SSMC officially merged with the Aryan Nations in 2012 (Keenan, 2014). This quickly gained McGiffen the title of general on the Aryan National Advisory Council, bringing him closer to Morris Gulett (leader of the Aryan Nations) (Morlin, 2014). 

Whilst the SSMC had held close ties to the Aryan Nations for a couple of years, at the end of 2013/start of 2014, these relations fell apart (Morlin, 2014). During an online rant, Aryan Nation leader Morris Gulett described the SSMC as "drunks and race-mixers", leading to the group's leader replying in kind. According to Gulett, the rift between the Aryan Nations and the SSMC had primarily developed due to a refusal by the SSMC to follow the Nation's strict policy on uniforms and member behaviour. 

Whilst this detachment from the Aryan Nations essentially stripped the SSMC of credibility/resources for larger-scale activity, the group seems to have continued its activity to the current day. In March, 2015, the SPLC released their report on active neo nazis in the US. At this point, 5 chapters were identified in Brighton (Illinois), Crestline (Ohio), Oklahoma, Friedens (Pennsylvania), and Mercer (Wisconsin) (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2015). Based on advertisements on the group's website and user comments on its blog page, the SSMC has continued to attend right-wing rallies and events, including the 36th Annual Mid America Freedom Rally in May 2025 (SSMC Website). This rally, featuring live music and a wet t-shirt contest, was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the US armed forces.

Objectives & Ideology

The SSMC make no efforts to conceal their Neo-Nazism, with the group's primary symbology consisting of a silver Totenkopf flanked by SS bolts and standard top rocker/bottom rocker and MC (motorcycle club) insignia on a black background. Additionally, the S's of "Sadistic Souls" are also often replaced with SS lightning bolts. The white supremacist component of these beliefs is also clearly represented by the fact that the SSMC only accept white recruits.

Interestingly, the group does seem to make some use of cryptofascistic messaging. A welcome message on SSMC's website reads, "If your not a part of the solution, Your part of the problem" (grammar is accurate to the message on the website). Just below this message, another, larger message reads "BLACK AND SILVER SOLUTION". Whilst this message is a reference to the coalition of hate groups, known as the Black and Silver Solution, of which the modern SSMC claims to be a component, it may have a deeper meaning. This discussion of the "solution" being black and silver is a clear reference to the group's own symbology, its nazi connotations, and Hitler's ideas of the "final solution".

The group also operates under the constitution of the Aryan Nations, a neo-nazi white supremacist group; "We stand for god, race, and nation and the 14 words." (SSMC Website). The 14 words is a Neo-Nazi slogan referring to the preservation of the white race in the face of mass replacement by other races. These ideas of racial replacement are echoed across the SSMC website, suggesting that the group's political perspective is heavily influenced by the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory commonly propagated by neo-nazi groups. 

The solution to this mass replacement is regularly cited as being an international holy war, with many members agreeing with such a solution on the group's blog page (SSMC Website). However, despite the objective of participating in a holy war, the SSMC have openly stated that they recruit members from any "Western" religion, including those who identify as atheist (Lenz and Wood, 2016). 

Military/Political Abilities

The ANSSMC explains on their website that it is the militant arm of the Aryan Nations, with the Aryan Nations being the political component of the Separatist Church of Jesus Christ. What this "militant" nature actually means for the group's activity is unclear. However, regardless of this claim of militancy, the Aryan Nations has completely dissociated from the group, stripping it of its primary platform on which the SSMC projected its activity.

Even during its peak, the SSMC seems to have been a small group of close-knit friends, as opposed to a mass movement. Whilst chapters have been located across the US (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2015), photos of these chapters usually only contain between 4 and 7 members. Despite the smaller size of these individual chapters, they seem widespread, with the group's website displaying photos of chapters as far-flung as New Zealand (SSMC Website). 

Approach to Resistance

The SSMC features a rather extensive recruitment process, consisting of three stages. First, members are vetted following an application, with this application originally being processed by the Aryan Nations, but is now handled directly by the SSMC. Second, they are initiated into the Aryan nations, learning the group's ways and integrating with other members. Finally, prospecting recruits must own or purchase an American-made motorcycle with an engine larger than 1200cc and be in good standing with their brothers (SSMC Website). 

Once a member of the SSMC, a recruit remains under a probationary period for 6 months under the condition that they will attend an SSMC meeting at least twice annually (SSMC Website). These "meets" seem to be the primary form of activity which the SSMC undertakes, with members expected to contribute to and assist in the organisation of these events. More specifically, SSMC members are expected to operate in a security capacity when attending events held by, or in conjunction with, other groups. 

International Relations & Alliances

The SSMC connection with the Aryan Nations seems relatively unclear to this day. The website's title reads Aryan Nations Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club, suggesting a primary link to the group, with the website stating that the Aryan Nations world leader is also the SSMC's National President by default (SSMC Website). 

Despite this, the Aryan Nations themselves have largely distanced themselves from the SSMC. Whilst the SSMC have been associated with terrorist plots due to its leadership, this distancing was actually the result of the SSMC's excessive swearing, drinking, and apparent "race mixing" (Keenan, 2014). 

This supposed separation is even further muddied when other groups connected to the SSMC are considered. As noted earlier, the SSMC are a member of the Black and Silver solution, a coalition of far-right/Neo-nazi hate groups. This coalition contains numerous groups; however, its primary members are considered to be the SSMC, the Skinhead Division, Sadistic Skins, Right Wing Resistance, and finally the Aryan Nations Knights (SSMC Website). This proxied connection to the Aryan Nations through one of its sub-groups is most likely the result of mutual benefit through bolstering the numbers of the Black and Silver Solution; however, the distinct lack of a clear break is interesting considering the inter-group fall-out was handled so publicly. 

Works Cited

• Catlyn, K. and Keenan (2014). Behind the Doors of White Supremacy Behind the Doors of White Supremacy. [online] Available at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1328&context=etd [Accessed 17 Jan. 2026].

• Lens and Wood. (2016). Ahead of the Black & Silver Solution Fall Conference, Questions Linger About Leadership. [online] Available at: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/ahead-black-silver-solution-fall-conference-questions-linger-about-leadership/.

• Morlin, (2014). Squabbling Aryan Nations Factions Descend Into Vicious Name-Calling. [online] Available at: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/squabbling-aryan-nations-factions-descend-vicious-name-calling/.

• Southern Poverty Law Center. (2015). Active Neo-Nazi Groups. [online] Available at: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/active-neo-nazi-groups/.

• ‌SSMC Website: https://www.sadisticsoulsmc.org/