Raider Nation is the official name for the fans of the National Football League (NFL)'s Las Vegas Raiders (formerly the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Raiders). Fan Jim Hudson coined the term in the 1990s when the Raiders returned to Oakland after a long hiatus in Los Angeles, thus becoming a team with a regional fanbase.
The team's fans devotion is chronicled in Better to Reign in Hell, a book written by San Diego English professor Jim Miller and Kelly Mayhew, who are Raiders fans.
Characteristics The city of Oakland's working-class background and "underdog status" compared to its neighboring city of San Francisco is cited as the foundation of the Raider Nation and its image, as is the influence of "outlaws" such as owner Al Davis and players like Ted Hendricks, Ken Stabler, John Matuszak, Bob Brown, Lester Hayes, Gene Upshaw, Jack Tatum, Goerge Atkinson, Lyle Alzado, Bill Romanowski, Vontaze Burfict, Richie Incognito and Maxx Crosby in creating a bad boy image. The team's aggressive style of play during the 1970s and 1980s, when the Raiders won their three Super Bowls, is also mentioned. This perception did not change when the Raiders moved to Los Angeles, but the move did diversify their fan base to include more African Americans and Latinos, and the Raiders would become increasingly associated with West Coast gangsta rap groups like: N.W.A, Compton's Most Wanted and Cypress Hill during this period. Multiple heavy metal bands would also express their support for the team, including: Metallica, Slayer, Testament, Machine Head, and Megadeth. This association would lead to the Raider Nation to grow a reputation as a gritty, intimidating notoriety amongst fans and celebrities alike; spreading across the country as fans express their longtime devotion to the team.
Members of Raider Nation take pride in their image, and many of the most devoted Raiders fans dress up in elaborate costumes on game day. Many of these costumes are intended to be intimidating and eccentric while also adhering to the Raiders' silver and black color scheme, and many fans also create alter egos for these characters as well. These fans are typically the ones that are most associated with the Raider Nation and The Black Hole. Actress and singer Naya Rivera was a notable fan; her brother Mychal played tight end for the team between 2013 and 2016. Rapper Ice Cube is one of the Raiders' best-known fans, having been a vocal supporter since the 1980s He has written songs about the team and has appeared in many videos promoting the team.
"The Autumn Wind", first released in 1974, has become the fight song of Raider Nation and can be heard aloud at every game.
Notable fans 50 Cent Alexander De Leon Anjelah Johnson Anthony Kiedis Axl Rose B Real Billie Joe Armstrong Blackie Lawless Bray Wyatt Bret Hart Carlos Santana Cindy Blackman Santana Carson Daly Chino Moreno Chuck Billy Dave Mustaine Dru Down Denzel Curry Eazy E Eddie Van Halen Fieldy Fred Durst Gabriel Iglesias George Lopez Tiny Lister Guy Fieri Hunter S. Thompson Ice Cube Ice T Ivan Moody James Garner James Hetfield Jeff Hanneman Joe Satriani Josephine Skriver Keak da Sneak Kerry King Lil Jon Lars Frederiksen MC Hammer MC Ren Mike Tyson Mac Dre Mick Thomson Michelle Williams Richie Rich Naya Rivera Neal Schon Robb Flynn Ronda Rousey Sen Dog Spice 1 SpaceGhostPurrp Shannon Larkin Shavo Odadjian Snow Tha Product Steve Aoki Tiger Woods Tom Hanks Jimena Sánchez Vanessa Hudgens Too Short Treach Terence Crawford Tyson Fury Tommy Shaw Zoltan Bathory Yukmouth Jay Briscoe
See also 49er Faithful 12s Mob Squad Bills Mafia Steeler Nation Cheesehead Red Sox Nation Yankees Universe Cardinal Nation
References
External links
Ice Cube Revisits L.A. Raiders Glory Days Origins of the Original Raider Nation Website as created by Jim Hudson Raider Nation: Behind the Makeup