Exile on Front Street

My Life as a Hells Angel...and Beyond

By: George Christie

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

After 40 years in the Hells Angels, George Christie was ready to retire. As president of the high-profile Ventura charter of the club, he had been the yin to Sonny Barger's yang. Barger was the reckless figurehead and de facto world leader of the Hells Angels. Christie was the negotiator, the spokesman, the thinker, the guy who smoothed things out. He was the one who carried the Olympic torch and counted movie stars, artists, rock musicians, and police chief captains among his friends. But leaving the Hells Angels isn't easy, and within two weeks of retirement, he was told he was "out bad" - blackballed by his fellow Angels, prohibited from wearing the club patch, and even told he should remove his Death Head tattoo.

Now Christie sets out to tell his story. Exile on Front Street is the tale of how a former marine gave up a comfortable job with the Department of Defense and swore allegiance to the Hells Angels. In this revealing, hard-hitting memoir, he recounts his life as an outlaw biker with the world's most infamous motorcycle club.

©2016 George Christie (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Christie articulately defends his outlaw code, which he adhered to at great personal cost." ( Publishers Weekly)

great book

very good book believable story did not really like the reader sonny was a real peace of work

eye opener

a real inside look of life in an outlaw club.... no sugar coating it... a must-read

Honest, informative and well done.

A wonderful read (listen). A very open and honest memoir, well written with the perfect narration. I feel like I know Mr. Christie, at least I would like to meet him. A true peace seeker in a world of those looking for anything but peace. Thank you for a great book!

ignore the negative

This book seem to have a lot of bad reviews after listening to it I would have to say that I disagree. It’s not the greatest thing that you ever listen to, but worth the credit.

Very Strong....Great Story

I believe George Christie gives an honest account of his life as a Hells Angel, and the events that took place during his time with them. As a motorcycle lover, Harley rider, and one who lives life a bit against the grain – I could not stop listening to this interesting story.

Has your attention 100% of the way

The book keeps your attention 100% of the way. There is never a dull moment and by the end of the book you end up wanting more!

amazing

George Christie story is great from his days surfing to His military days and his days as a Hells Angels leader then his life as a law abiding citizen. you will want to listen in one sitting

Unexpectedly warmed up to this author!

I think this is probably the best biker book overall. In my opinion the narrator, Joe Barrett, is way better than the narrator of Sonny Barger's book. Audible has included Barrett in its best narrator lists for good reason.

A lot of people will want to compare George Christie to Sonny Barger. Each is a leader and highly intelligent, but in different ways. Barger articulates in the fewest words the benefits of being a biker, and he's very even-handed and tolerant of fellow Hell's Angels. Christie has the ability to come into an existing organization and work through all the internal conflict and confrontation to manage the big issues, setting the organization on a sustainable long-term path.

In this book (I hope George Christie writes more books), the author explains how the various biker gangs/clubs actually operate. This is different from Barger's viewpoint, as Barger focuses on the mystique and philosophy behind the lifestyle. Christie, on the other hand, tells us what a biker home normally looks like and in detail how people are expected to act based on their roles.

Christie explains how he originally saw the issues that motorcycle gang charters face. He understood that standing up to higher ranked members from the start set him on the path toward leadership. A lot of this has to do with rules of governance in such an organization. Christie believed strongly in the rule of biker law within the gang as opposed to the rule of personalities.

The reason I like Christie so much is he had an early epiphany that had he been born in Chicago, he'd probably be a member of the Outlaws, a national rival to Hell's Angels. He saw the bikers from the various gangs as being cut from the same cloth, so no reason to continue killing each other. Christie was a peacemaker. That not only made rational sense but led to a fair amount of financial gain for lots of bikers who were ambitious enough to take advantage of the peace, though nothing on the order of mafia profits.

Another reason I like Christie is he ran some legit businesses and valued a family life, a kind of contradiction to the lifestyle. He allowed himself to be available to law enforcement so that the public peace could prevail at critical times. He seems squared away, responsible. I believe I would have wanted him as a neighbor.

Contemporary Outlaw

A very believable version of the Hells Angels circa 1970-2000. George Christie’s vision for the MC is downright beautiful, too bad human nature always screws up a good thing.

True North

I was never a 1% biker, but that life always had a pull on me. This book really pulls you into something real. George lived this life, and still held true north in his life. Much respect to him. Awesome book.