To Hell and Back: A Former Hells Angel s Story of Recovery and Redemption

by Joe Calendino, Gary Little

A gripping portrait of a notorious Vancouver gangster and Hells Angels elite who descended into a life of homelessness and addiction, ultimately redeeming himself through award-winning youth advocacy. As an outlaw biker living on the fringes of society Joe Calendino travelled the world, relishing the dangerous glamour of the Hells Angels’ lifestyle, even committing himself to an elite chapter in the the Nomads Motorcycle Club or “one percenters”. But his life soon spiralled into a world of drugs and debt. A tight noose of addiction began to rule. Eventually frustrated by Calendino’s recklessness, the Hells Angels stripped him of membership. In desperation, Calendino spent months in rat-infested crack houses, combing back alleys for anything that might help him get his next fix. Finding himself on the cusp of death, he gained the support of an unlikely ally, Officer Kevin Torvik, a former high-school buddy on a very different path. Calendino not only recovered but thrived and redefined himself as a community youth leader, eventually winning the Courage to Come Back Award given to individuals who give back after overcoming tremendous adversity. Told by his trusted former high school counsellor, author and educator Gary Little, To Hell and Back offers a page turning and rarely told perspective on gang life—a remarkable reminder of the power of individual transformation.

Joe Calendino is the Executive Director of Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative and works with youth in some of Vancouver’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods. Gary Little is Director of International Baccalaureate Educator Programs at the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia.

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2017

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is authored by two people; Calendino and Gary Little, with Little providing the bulk of the narration. It documents the rise of Calendino from problem student to wealthy entrepreneur, thence to prominence in a bike gang and the inevitable descent into criminal activity, eventually hoist with his own petard when he became addicted to his own nose candy. He was essentially a gutter wretch when he decided to go straight and, with tons of help, used his criminal background as a platform from which to lecture at-risk kids about the perils of straying from the path of righteousness.

I feel bad that I didn't like the book more. I should be on side, right? The Lord loves a sinner come to his understanding, after all, doesn't he? The trouble is, for me, that the book reads more like a hagiography. Nobody is as tough as Joe. No one fights like Joe. No one endures pain like Joe. Joe can father more children with more women at the same time than anyone else, and everyone is OK with that. No one considers the possibility that Joe might be playing on a newfound virtuosity to avoid pending prosecution for sins of the past. There is some information online that suggests he put forward his mentorship to petition for consideration on an outstanding drug charge.

It's easy to be a tough guy when you have your gang with you. Calendino apparently joined a bike gang for "respect". To me it means he wanted to be feared. He was apparently wealthy at the time and could have gained a ton of respect by supporting a charity or doing some mentoring without selling dope. The narrative in the book doesn't address the victims...how many died as a result of addictions caused by the stuff he was selling, how many people were beaten and robbed to get the wherewithal to buy his goodies? The book very carefully avoids looking into this very deeply. Calendino says he never killed anyone. I doubt that he is free from blame in a number of deaths, even if he never actually pulled a trigger.

Don't get me wrong...I'm glad he has seen the light and isn't hurting anyone anymore, and maybe he is even helping a bit, which is all to the good. The guy fell into a cesspit he dug himself and came out smelling like a rose. Gorgeous wife, nice family, getting paid to tell people what a jerk he used to be. I just hope his victims can take some solace from that.

I wasn't real happy that they adopted the title of Audie Murphy's autobiography for the book. He was a genuine conflicted hero. Incidentally, I got this book for free from a Little Free Library. I may have paid too much.

[Toby Mustill · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Hell and Back is an interesting book with a different than usual format. It combines the main author’s (Gary Little) biography with Joe’s thoughts mixed in. While I enjoyed the book and the story, I found the writing style to be more suited to a fiction novel, rather than a biography/autobiography, especially given the author speaks in 3rd person writing mixed with Joe’s 1st person writing. So while I immensely enjoyed the story and found it fascinating, my only complaint would be the rather odd style of writing.

[Samantha C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool, local book to BC. Interesting to read.