Mean Street

Enter the gritty world of Van Halen's "Mean Street," the explosive opening track from their 1981 album Fair Warning. Kicking off with Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary tapping intro, this hard rock/heavy metal powerhouse sets a dark, aggressive tone, showcasing the band's incredible instrumental prowess.

Featured on the 1981 album Fair Warning, "Mean Street" represented a heavier, darker turn for Van Halen. Its raw energy, driven by Eddie's innovative guitar work, David Lee Roth's streetwise vocals, and a locked-in rhythm section, makes it a definitive hard rock statement from the band's classic era.

This 1981 hard rock/heavy metal classic paints a picture of urban struggle with intense musicality. From the iconic tapped intro to the driving riffs and swaggering groove, "Mean Street" remains a fan favorite, highlighting Van Halen's unparalleled power and technical skill during this period.

SONG MEANING: The song depicts the harsh realities and dangers of growing up or living in a rough, impoverished urban environment ("At night I walk this stinkin' street / Past the crazies on my block"). The lyrics convey a sense of struggle, survival, and the street smarts needed ("Takes a greasy monkey to know what's on my mind") to navigate life on the "mean streets."