Street Justice [Hardcover]

Chuck Zito (Author), Joe Layden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2002

From the streets of Brooklyn to the set of Oz. From Hells Angel to celebrity bodyguard. The revealing autobiography of an American man.

Chuck Zito comes by his reputation honestly as one of the toughest, most uncompromising men ever to sit astride a Harley. Now, with tales both hilarious and chilling, violent and truthful, Zito tells his life story in his own words.

From growing up on the mean streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx, where fighting was a way of life, to becoming president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels, to the wild and crazy life of protecting some of the world's biggest celebrities, Zito might be seen as a latter-day outlaw, the last of a dying breed of men. But throughout his tempestuous days, one thing defined him: his unfailing sense of justice, of what's really right and what's really wrong. That's how Zito found himself facing his biggest challenge: refusing to cooperate with a federal investigation into his brothers, the Hells Angels, and in the process losing the very thing he cherished most-his freedom.

Zito's astonishing recovery from this experience, and the unique kind of stardom he forged based on hard work and sheer will, is a testament to his courage, his ambition, and his indomitable heart-a testament now recorded unflinchingly in Street Justice.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a meandering memoir that ranges from his childhood in the Bronx to his days as a nose-busting Hells Angel and bodyguard to the stars, Zito (who uses "Fuggedaboutit!" without a dose of irony) proudly recounts the details of street fights in which he knocks out yet another drunk who "challenges a representative of the most notorious motorcycle club in the land." More interesting than the KOs are Zito's chronicles of fellow Hell's Angels brothers such as John "The Baptist" LoFrancco, Charming Chuck, Terrible Ted and Mike the Bike, and the turf wars, bike runs, clubhouse rituals and cell time they share with Zito (who spent almost six years in prison for conspiracy drug-trafficking, despite his claims of innocence and a drug-free lifestyle). The celebrity clientele of the author's Charlie's Angels Bodyguard Service are a who's who of the 80s: the list includes Mickey Rourke, Liza Minelli and Sly Stallone, all of whom appeared at his trial in his defense. Zito's status as a regular on the HBO series Oz is proof that his street cred has earned him a place in Hollywood-rumor has it he's even got his own upcoming USA Networks series, Chuck Zito's Street Justice-and this humble memoir is equal parts gritty and entertaining. 8-page color photo insert, 44 b&w photos throughout.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Zito is a star of Oz , the HBO series, but once was a Hell's Angels chapter president as well as a Golden Gloves boxer. In between he was a celebrity bodyguard, too, but it's the biker identity that wafts through this gritty autobiography--like Zito's penchant for wearing a Hells Angels ring on each finger while bodyguarding: not only chic, but intimidating, too! It's brawls, squalls, and casting calls, with working security for Lorna Luft, to boot. Like Zito says at the end of his story, "For better or worse, this is who I am. You got a problem with that?" Think Steven Seagal with more (or any) credibility. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (October 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312301243
• ISBN-13: 978-0312301248
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,222,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The REAL Rocky Balboa..., July 7, 2004

By 

D. Gold "Davey Boy" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Street Justice (Hardcover)

No, not Sly Stallone. Chuck Zito. I've never been the violent type. But I can't say I've never wanted to sock someone in the lip for mouthing off. Let's just say that I was able to live vicariously through Chuck Zito's autobiography. What I found to be most interesting was the level of detail associated with his stories of brutality. Additionally, he gives a SCARY account of prison - it's no wonder HBO hired him as a consultant/actor for the hit series OZ. WARNING: This book is not for the squeamish. His book is graphic and often times disturbing - just the kind of reading material to keep my attention! Now, I'm not one to read a book cover-to-cover over the course of three days. But this was just "one of those books" I couldn't put down. If you're interested in a first-hand account of bike gangs, violence, and prison, then this is the book for you. I would venture to say that the most memorable part of this book was the beatdown Chuck Zito delivered to Jean-Claude VanDamm at Scores Gentleman's Club in New York City - it's classic. Upon reading this book, I couldn't help but realize how truly "boring" my life was in the context of things. Please feel free to disagree with my opinion; let us compare opinions, invite a few more points of view, and debate, like the humans we are.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Roaring good read, December 10, 2002

By 

Mark Correal (Franklin, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Street Justice (Hardcover)

Figuring that I owed the author for flattening Van Damme, I purchased this book with little expectation other than reading a collection of head banging stories. Instead, I found a well written biography of a man whose sense of honor, guides him through a very interesting life. The biography follows the author from early childhood, through his boxing and martial arts training, into his membership with the Hell's Angel's, his ability to customize cars and motorcycles, his bodyguarding business, prison time and his career in the acting field. Here is a personality who is equally at home with outlaw motorcyclists, celebrities and the nightlife club scene. Yet he gives the impression that the average guy could be a valued friend. The reader is left with the impression that while the author might knock you out if you challenged his honor, he wouldn't steal your wallet while you were out cold. Nor would he allow anyone else to take it. Likewise his relationship with his parents rings a familar note to all us middle age baby boomers, who share feelings of unresolved issues, guilt and faded memories of our own relationships with our parents.
A well written, entertaining book with plenty of photos. Get this one.
Zito has inspired me. Tonight I am buying a Harley to cruise around on. But I better help my wife with the dishes first or she will clobber me.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blindingly good read! Buy it today, April 19, 2006

By 

Dwight Braxton "Mohamed Qawi" (Shankillburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Street Justice (Paperback)

Having seen Chuck Zito in the TV show Oz, I was real keen to read his book to find out more about the man, and I was not disappointed, I can tell you. Like the character "Big Mervyn" he plays in the show Oz, the Chuckster is 100% real man: fair in his views, kind to his friends, and not afraid to dish out a slap when it's required. And sometimes when it's not! His story about punching Jean-Claude Van Damme in the clinkers was hilarious, as was his tale of pushing the legendary Italian-American TV hardman Luigi Alvin through a plate glass window - six floors up! Thankfully Luigi landed in the swimming pool and later saw the funny side too, from ICU. If you're interested in Hells Angels, the Mafia, bikers, or scholastic philosophy, I would strongly encourage you all to buy this book from Amazon TODAY!!!! Thank you.