Four Other Riders Of The Apocalypse

Otherwise known, albeit briefly, as the Bikers of the Repocalypse, the hapless four ride out from the Happy Porker Café in the wake of the real Hell's Angels and set out south down the M6 in the vague direction of Tadfield. They are known individually as Big Ted, Pigbog, Greaser, and Scuzz. It is really not worth committing this to memory, nor the concepts of revolting evil that they choose to embody, as three out of the four are killed shortly afterwards in a collision with a heap of fish which is blocking all lanes of the carriageway, having previously been part of an extremely improbable rainstorm. The last ride of the Bikers of the Repocalypse is in Good Omens.

Annotation

Again the words of Agnes Nutter were vindicated:-

3017. I see Four Riding, bringing thee ende; and thee Angells of Hell rise with them...

When the Nice and Accurate Prophecies are quoted concerning the Last Ride of the Four Other Riders Of The Apocalypse, Agnes is very specific in saying that "Four, on Iron Horses Ride"... this is a direct quote from the Mötorhead song "Iron Horse" (from the LP Mötorhead).

This song laments the passing of the high days of Hell's Angel culture, and follows an ageing biker as he contemplates his last ride and going out in a blaze of glory...

One day, one day, he'll go for a burn;

Together they'll ride, on the eternal run;

Wasted for ever, on speed, bikes and booze;

A travelling of brothers - all born to lose!

On Iron Horses ride - On Iron Horse he'll gladly die!

Iron Horse, his life - on Iron Horse he died!"

The aforementioned Blue Öyster Cult explore similar ground using similar language - "iron horse", "leather horseman", "perched on American steel", et c, on a track called Feel the Thunder (on the Revolution By Night album). Could it be that this is a double homage to heavy rock songs glorifying the Hell's Angels?

It has also been suggested that there is a third cunningly veiled reference to rock music in this part of Good Omens, concerning the 7a Bikers who set off on the Last Ride down the M6 motorway (which links Birmingham to Manchester and points North). Gravel-voiced blues-ballad man Chris Rea had a hit with a song called This is the Road To Hell, which is said to have been inspired by a nightmare journey down the M25...