The title, which appears cryptic at first glance, is easily deciphered via Penck's second artistic passion alongside painting: music. "TTT", re-formed as "The New TTT" in the 1990s, was a jazz band featuring A.R. Penck as a drummer, who has performed in New York, among other places, since the 1970s and has recorded numerous records with different casts. The others named in the title are Alan Silva, who played synthesizers, and Frank "Frankie" Wollny on guitar and bass. "TTT" stands for "Triple Trip Touch", and the band still exists after Penck's death in loose partnerships, sometimes with Markus Lüpertz as the "artistic" successor on the piano.
Using Penck's characteristic sign language, the painting appears to present the three band members in full action, arranged in a circle around a central star or sun motif, which may also be read as the bass drum from Penck's drum kit.
