News Feature

Motowear company goes to hell and back

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Crü Jones and Cammi Climaco, Lucifer's Pride — Rahoul Ghose

Fallen angels, outlaw bikers, cultural nods to the moto lifestyle … even a philosophy of life to rule rather than serve society’s norms. Brooklyn’s Crü Jones and Cammi Climaco drew inspiration from all of the above when launching their new clothing brand this month, featuring a moniker that draws all sorts of connotations – Lucifer’s Pride.

The biblical story of Lucifer falling from heaven to hell – so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone; the 1 per centers – outlaw motorcycle clubs sporting colors; and even musical icons … think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

“It’s all off those things. Lucifer is a great character. I grew up Catholic, and in the Bible he had all the best lines,” says Jones, an NYC transplant originally from Independence, OH, with a penchant for vintage Hondas, rock ‘n’ roll and quiet, ironic humor.

“Putting yourself in the company of Satan draws an invisible line. A person who would wear it on jacket or shirt has to not give a fuck what people think. Those are my people,” he says. “But also, when I came up with the name, I thought it was right on the edge of ridiculous. Looking at ‘70s biker gangs for inspiration I couldn’t believe some of the names and logos. The best ones were super tough. The worst ones were hilarious.”

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Crü Jones and Cammi Climaco, Lucifer's Pride — Rahoul Ghose

When I came up with the name, I thought it was right on the edge of ridiculous. Looking at ‘70s biker gangs for inspiration I couldn’t believe some of the names and logos. The best ones were super tough. The worst ones were hilarious.

Crü Jones, Lucifer's Pride

Jones is quick to point out the brand – which will initially sell t-shirts, patches and custom vintage denim jackets and vests online at luciferspride.com – is NOT an actual motorcycle gang or club.

"It’s no different than t-shirts in Little Italy with Mafia references. A guy wearing a shirt that says, ‘leave the gun, take the cannoli’, isn’t a ‘made man’. A guy wearing a t-shirt with ‘MC’ on it is not an outlaw biker. Everyone’s welcome. We ride every day. Get at us if you want to join us.”

Designs, including the brand's logo – crossed scythes, often combined with a animal skull – are the bailiwick of Climaco, an artist and the major reason Jones came to New York in 2014.

“She’s my partner in life and in the company,” Jones says, adding after 25 years of not speaking, he rekindled his romance with Climaco, his high school girlfriend, who has lived in New York since 1999.

“She stopped being mad at me for past transgressions. We did the long-distance thing for a few months. It was either she was going to move to Ohio or I was coming here. New York has very little in common with Ohio, though they both have rich motorcycle cultures.”

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Crü Jones, Lucifer's Pride — Rahoul Ghose

That’s why I always came back to Japanese bikes. Seventies Honda CBs to me are the best bikes because they are plentiful and fairly easy to work on.

Crü Jones, Lucifer's Pride

The local riding culture has proved invaluable for the Wythe Hotel engineer, who ironically lives between two motorcycle club HQs, including Dirty Billy’s Garage, where he houses and wrenches on his 1975/78 Honda CB 550, dubbed ‘Black Francis’.

“I mean it’s fat and tough and makes a lot of noise just like the singer of the Pixies. I have a fondness for my classic motorcycle. And since I ride it every day, there’s a lot of upkeep. I’m also fixing my Cammi’s vintage bike that I may or may not have blown up on a trip to Cold Springs for BBQ.”

Jones, an early member of the NY Classic Riders, has been spinning his tires for more than two decades (Climaco just under two years) and looks back fondly on growing up in the mid-west.

“In Ohio there were plenty of trails and woods to ride dirt bikes and ATVs. I got my first road bike in my early 20s. It was a Kawasaki KZ440, an easy to ride and reliable first bike. I rode a Triumph hardtail in my early 30s that I bought off an old biker. He got tired of all his brothers telling him it wasn’t as good as a Harley. I got it super cheap. It wasn’t easy to ride OR reliable. That’s why I always came back to Japanese bikes. Seventies Honda CBs to me are the best bikes because they are plentiful and fairly easy to work on.”

Rock ‘n’ roll has also been a part of the 47-year-old's life experience, since the late 80s.

“Age is just a number though, right? John Mellencamp claims that, ‘Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone.’ I really spend every day trying to prove that theory wrong,” says Jones, who is instantly recognizable at local events sporting his trademark long greying beard.

“I’ve been playing rock ‘n’ roll music as a guitarist/singer since high school. To me, rock music and motorcycles go hand in hand. I listen to everything. My knowledge of obscure music trivia is both extensive and mostly useless.”

Maybe this monkey will get to heaven …

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Crü Jones and Cammi Climaco, Lucifer's Pride — Rahoul Ghose

I’ve been playing rock ‘n’ roll music as a guitarist/singer since high school. To me, rock music and motorcycles go hand in hand. I listen to everything. My knowledge of obscure music trivia is both extensive and mostly useless.

Crü Jones, Lucifer's Pride

What’s next for Lucifer’s Pride? In the Fall expect hats, wallets, key chains and jackets to be added to the inventory and for select items to appear in local boutique moto shops, Jones says.

“We just want to fill a void in what’s already out there. Everything I see now is either super colorful and aimed at sport bike riders, or the same skull designs and Sons of Anarchy wannabe stuff. We are going for bad as hell with a touch of elegance.

“We are looking at some local shops that might be a good fit for carrying our brand. Anybody out there who is interested can hit us up. Also, we have a few collaborations with local designers in the works for summer.”

As to a backlash from bikers for using the ‘MC’ designation in designs, Jones says he doesn't anticipate any issues with New York's large collection of patched riders.

“I think the use of gold on black distances them from being mistaken for actual colors. We have no clubhouse, no one pays dues, and besides some occasional bending of traffic laws, we aren’t a criminal organization.”

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Crü Jones and Cammi Climaco, Lucifer's Pride — Rahoul Ghose

To make the trek from hell and back, visit Lucifer’s Pride online at luciferspride.com. |     

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1 Comment

  1. Maryanne Tranter

    Can I be in your club even if I don’t ride? ❤️

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