The Untold Story of Sonny Barger and George Christy: Brotherhood, Rivalry, and the Legacy of the Hell’s Angels

For decades, the world has been captivated by the legend of Sonny Barger, the iconic figure behind the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club.

But what lies beneath the leather jacket and steel-blue eyes? Former outlaw biker George Christy, who stood beside Barger at the peak of their power, reveals the gritty truth behind the myth.

This isn’t the sanitized version you’ve seen in documentaries; it’s a raw account of a brotherhood that turned into a bitter rivalry, spanning decades and culminating in a shocking legacy.

Sonny Barger wasn’t the founder of the Hell’s Angels; this is the first myth that Christy shatters.

The club existed for a full decade before Barger joined, co-founding the Oakland chapter in 1957 at just 17 years old.

With a hunger for control and a vision that extended beyond the San Bernardino chapter, Barger quickly became the face and voice of the entire organization.

His drive and ambition were unparalleled, transforming the Hell’s Angels from a loose collection of chapters into a powerful empire.

Christy vividly recalls Barger’s tenacity, stating, “The drive on him, the vision he had was incredible.

” Even at 70, while most men were thinking about retirement, Barger was revitalizing the Dirty Dozen motorcycle club in Arizona, demonstrating a relentless ambition that never seemed to wane.

But behind the charisma lay a darker side; Barger was politically rigid and quick to resort to violence against anyone who challenged his authority.

In 1982, Barger received a devastating diagnosis: throat cancer.

The prognosis was grim, and the surgery that followed left him unable to speak without mechanical assistance.

For the first time in his life, Barger faced mortality, and the power vacuum created by his illness sent shockwaves through the club.

In a moment of vulnerability, he relinquished control to two men: Michael O’Farrell, known as Irish, and George Christy.

While Barger fought for his life, Irish and Christy stepped into the spotlight, becoming the public faces of the Hell’s Angels.

They handled media interviews and made strategic decisions, effectively running the organization in Barger’s absence.

But as Barger defied the odds and survived, he found himself in a new battle—one for his power and influence.

As Barger sought to reclaim his throne, a more insidious threat lurked within the organization.

Anthony Tate, the West Coast Sergeant-at-Arms, was secretly an FBI informant.

His infiltration put the Hell’s Angels at risk, gathering evidence against the club while maintaining the trust of its members.

When Barger ordered a retaliation against the Outlaws following a murder, Tate’s position became a dangerous liability.

The ensuing trial exposed the inner workings of the Hell’s Angels, painting them as a highly organized criminal operation.

Barger and Irish were convicted, and the once-mighty leader watched as his empire crumbled from behind bars.

Christy, who had distanced himself from Tate’s schemes, remained free, but the power dynamics within the club had shifted irrevocably.

As Barger served his sentence, Christy grew in influence, becoming the de facto leader of the West Coast operation.

However, the relationship between the two men deteriorated into rivalry, fueled by ego and ambition.

Barger, seeking to monetize the Hell’s Angels brand, faced resistance from members loyal to Christy.

The tension escalated, leading to a bitter power struggle that threatened to tear the brotherhood apart.

In 1998, Barger relocated to Arizona, distancing himself from the turmoil in California.

He aimed to build a new empire, but the wounds from his past remained fresh.

The split between Barger and Christy became public knowledge, with each man vying for control over the narrative of the Hell’s Angels.

On June 28, 2022, Christy received a fateful call from a fellow Hell’s Angel, warning him that Barger was gravely ill.

The opportunity for reconciliation loomed, but time was running out.

Barger passed away the following day, leaving Christy with unresolved feelings and a profound sense of loss.

In the wake of Barger’s death, Christy began writing a new book titled Crossing the Rubicon, aiming to share the untold stories of life inside the Hell’s Angels.

He sought to reveal the man behind the legend, a flawed yet driven individual who left an indelible mark on motorcycle culture.

The story of Sonny Barger and George Christy is one of complexity, ambition, and the harsh realities of life within the outlaw motorcycle scene.

Their relationship, once rooted in brotherhood, became a battleground for power and influence, reflecting the darker side of a lifestyle steeped in loyalty and betrayal.