The Life of a Hell's Angels President-George Christie

Quick Overview

George Christie served as the longest-serving president in the history of the Los Angeles chapter of the Hell's Angels, from 1977 to 2011, during which time he experienced intense internal conflicts and federal scrutiny, ultimately leaving the club over a disagreement regarding escalating violence against other motorcycle clubs like the Vagos.

Key Points: Christie served as the Los Angeles Hell's Angels president from 1977 to 2011, a tenure he calls a "dubious title" and the longest in the club's history. He attributes his attraction to the lifestyle to an early childhood memory of an intimidating outlaw biker, vowing, "no one's ever going to laugh at me again." Christie's youth included graduating high school in 1965, joining the Marine Corps in February 1966, and simultaneously buying a motorcycle, creating a "split allegiance." He recounted beating a 1986 federal conspiracy to commit murder case after taking the stand for six days, telling the jury, "perhaps I broke a moral rule, but I hadn't broken a legal rule." Christie left the club in 2011 after younger members wanted to fight the Vagos, which he advised against, stating, "If you want to fight with the VOS, they're going to give it to you." He views outlaw motorcycle clubs as organizations "with criminals within the structure of it," not inherently criminal organizations, and now works as an expert witness exclusively for the defense. Christie detailed a love-hate relationship with Sunny Barger, noting that Barger believed controversy keeps people sharp with the philosophy, "I burn every bridge I cross, George."

Context: The transcript features an interview with George Christie, former President of the Los Angeles chapter of the Hell's Angels, detailing his life trajectory from a childhood heavily influenced by the desire to escape ridicule to joining the outlaw motorcycle club and eventually becoming its longest-serving president. The discussion spans his early life, military service, his tenure leading the LA chapter, his complex relationship with founding member Sunny Barger, and his eventual departure from the organization amidst rising internal tensions and external conflicts.