Theoretical Girls

Theoretical Girls
Company type	Musical ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	1977
Founder	Glenn Branca, Jeff Lohn
Defunct	1981
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Products	Music recordings, live performances

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Theoretical Girls, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025

Theoretical Girls was a no wave ensemble based in New York City, established by Glenn Branca alongside conceptual artist and composer Jeff Lohn, active between 1977 and 1981. Their live performances numbered around twenty, including three appearances in Paris, and they issued a single release titled "U.S. Millie"/"You Got Me". Although the band never secured a contract with a record label, they are acknowledged as foundational figures in the no wave movement, merging elements of classical composition with the raw energy of punk rock noise, largely embraced by the New York art community and minimalist music circles.

History

Following the dissolution of Branca and Lohn’s earlier project, The Static, Theoretical Girls made their first appearance at the Experimental Intermedia Foundation. The name was coined by artist Jeff Wall during conversations centered on women’s roles in conceptual art.

Regarded as one of the most mysterious no wave groups within the late 1970s New York underground art rock scene, Theoretical Girls achieved notoriety more for propelling the careers of avant-garde composer Glenn Branca and producer Wharton Tiers than for commercial impact—they produced only one single. Wharton Tiers contributed on drums while Branca played guitar; the lineup was completed by keyboardist Margaret De Wys and vocalist/guitarist Jeffrey Lohn, who brought a background in classical composition infused with punk rock’s vigor. Their musical approach bore resemblance to contemporaries such as The Contortions and DNA.

Their sound combined aggressive intensity with occasional wit, drawing inspiration from American minimalist music pioneers like La Monte Young. Their repertoire ranged from minimalist rhythmic compositions that anticipated early 1980s Sonic Youth to harsh, drone-heavy art-punk noise experiments.

After disbanding, two archival releases emerged: a 1995 Atavistic compilation featuring all tracks written by Branca, including "You Got Me," and a subsequent anthology of Lohn’s compositions assembled by Acute Records’ Daniel Selzer from rehearsal sessions and live recordings.

Following Theoretical Girls’ end, Lohn released the album Music From Paradise (1984) on Daisy Records, with several tracks incorporated into modern dance pieces choreographed by Karole Armitage.

Legacy

In 2023, Theoretical Girls were showcased at the Centre Pompidou within an exhibition curated by Nicolas Ballet titled Who You Staring At: Culture visuelle de la scène no wave des années 1970 et 1980 (Visual culture of the no wave scene in the 1970s and 1980s).

Single

Theoretical Girls: You Got Me (Branca)/U.S. Millie (Lohn) 7" single, (Theoretical Records, 1978)

Collections

Branca: The Static & Theoretical Girls: Songs '77-'79, (Atavistic Records, 1995)
features live and studio recordings from The Static and Theoretical Girls spanning 1977-1979
Theoretical Girls: Theoretical Record, (Acute Records, 2002)
compiles most of Theoretical Girls’ known recorded material

Compilation appearances

Various Artists - Out of Their Mouths (1996, Atavistic Records)
track: "You Got Me"
Various Artists - New York Noise (2003, Soul Jazz Records)
track: "You Got Me"
DVD 135 Grand Street, New York, 1979 directed by Ericka Beckman

References

Not Nothing: The Legacy of No Wave After Thirty Years

External links

Theoretical Girl performing featured on the DVD 135 Grand Street, New York, 1979 directed by Ericka Beckman
[1] Theoretical Girls appears as the third track on the Clocktower Colab Vinyl Mix broadcast (aired 5/9/16).