Biography
Mean Street's chief distinction rests on having once featured a youthful Gary Numan on bass, performing under the adopted name Gary Valerian, alongside former B-Sides vocalist Jeremy Harrington, guitarist Chris Gorgier, and drummer Kenny Bishop. The group had begun life under the name Heroin and also appeared as Stiletto and Riot before Numan departed in mid-1977. Rather than seek a replacement, the remaining members carried on as a trio, becoming steady performers at the punk venue the Vortex and appearing on the semi-seminal compilation Live at the Vortex. That recording failed to advance their prospects, and Mean Street disbanded in spring 1978. Gorgier and Bishop subsequently entered the mod-leaning Action Replay, while Harrington moved on to Gloria Mundi and the Monochrome Set. Gary Numan, for his part, achieved considerable success on his own.