Lydia Lunch

The Profile

Lydia Lunch is an American singer, writer, and performer central to New York’s no wave scene. She first fronted Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, then moved into solo work with Queen of Siam (1980) and 13.13 (1982), alongside extensive collaborations and spoken‑word projects.

Born in 1959 in Rochester, New York (birth name: Lydia Anne Koch). A leading figure of NYC’s no wave, she fronted Teenage Jesus and the Jerks before a prolific solo career. Notable collaborations include work with Sonic Youth and Rowland S. Howard, and she remains active as a musician and spoken‑word artist.

Two DeBaser reviews chart Lydia Lunch’s range: Queen of Siam as a genre-scrambling cult debut with cabaret, blues, and disco detours; and 13.13 as a stark, terrifying descent into nihilism and dread. Both pieces praise her no wave roots and uncompromising persona.