About Meanstreet
Meanstreet was a Norwegian hard rock band from Mosjøen, active from 1982 to 1987. Formed by guitarist Øystein «Øssi» Wika, the band became known as one of Helgeland's prominent rock acts during the mid-to-late 80s. Despite never releasing original recordings during their active years, the band built a strong local following with their high-energy performances and diverse setlist of covers from bands like Van Halen, Queen, ZZ Top, and Whitesnake.
Meanstreet went through several lineup changes over the years, with the final lineup featuring Øystein «Øssi» Wika on lead guitar, Finn Guttormsen on bass, Signar Baustad on vocals, and Yngve Dalen on drums. The band played several notable gigs, including their last headlining show at Alstahaug samfunnshus at Søvik in 1987, where they sold over 700 tickets to a packed audience.
While the band didn't record any official albums, some live recordings and personal demos still exist. Øystein «Øssi» Wika has hinted at the possibility of revisiting and releasing some of the material from that era. Meanstreet's legacy lives on in the memories of those who experienced the band's dynamic live shows during the golden age of rock in Norway.
Meanstreet
Norwegian rock band from Mosjøen.
Active Years: 1982-1987
Band Members:
- Øystein «Øssi» Wika - lead guitar, backing vocals (1982-1987)
- Finn Guttormsen - bass, backing vocals (1982-1987)
- Tore Straum - drums, percussion (1982-1983)
- Rune Andersen - drums, percussion (1983-1984)
- Signar Baustad - lead vocals (1985-1987)
- Erik Hopen - drums, percussion (1985, 1986)
- Jørn Govasli - drums, percussion (1985-1986)
- Tom Lennart Karlsen - drums, percussion (1986); d. 2019
- Yngve Dalen - drums, percussion (1986-1987)
Music & Discography:
Meanstreet didn't record or release any original music. Live, the band played covers spanning from the early '70s to the mid-80s — from bands like ZZ-Top, Whitesnake, Van Halen, Queen, and Rolling Stones. A couple of live concert recordings are still floating around out there. The band recorded a 4-track demo at one point, but the master tape was unfortunately lost/stolen before any copies were made. Øssi Wika also sits on a few personal demos with songs and ideas he intended for the band. Running out of steam, they never got to put in any serious work on these songs before the band split up in 1987, and Øssi Wika ended up shelving them for later use. Plans are still up in the air on the possibility of releasing this material.
Meanstreet 1987. Foto: B. Berg
