Mean Street

Brace yourself for Van Halen's "Mean Street," the explosive opening track from their darker 1981 album, Fair Warning. Kicking off with Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary tapped and slapped guitar intro, this hard rock and heavy metal powerhouse delivers an intense, gritty sonic assault that immediately commands attention.

Serving as the powerful opening statement on 1981's Fair Warning, "Mean Street" features one of Eddie Van Halen's most innovative guitar introductions. He employed a complex combination of two-handed tapping and string slapping techniques to create a percussive, intricate, and aggressive soundscape that was groundbreaking. This intense opening perfectly sets the dark, heavy metal-infused hard rock tone for the entire album.

Beyond the groundbreaking intro, "Mean Street" unleashes a driving, heavy riff backed by Van Halen's formidable rhythm section. David Lee Roth contributes gritty lyrics that paint a stark picture of survival and danger in a tough urban environment. This complex and aggressive track stands as a prime example of the band's heavier direction in 1981, solidifying its reputation within both hard rock and heavy metal genres.

SONG MEANING: "Mean Street" vividly portrays the harsh realities of life in a dangerous, impoverished urban setting. The lyrics speak to the struggles, violence, and limited opportunities faced by those living there ("The poor folks play for keeps down here"). It's a raw narrative about survival and the grim atmosphere of the "mean streets."