David Tibet is a British poet and artist who founded the music group Current 93, of which he is the only full-time member. He was given the name "Tibet" by Genesis P-Orridge, and in January 2005 he announced that he would revert to the name David Michael, although he continues to use the well-known "Tibet" in his public career to date.
Tibet's main musical outlet is the band Current 93, the only constant member of which is Tibet himself. Current 93's first release was the cassette-only Mi-Mort, a split C60 with Nurse With Wound. The first vinyl release was LAShTAL, with the line-up of Tibet, John Balance of Coil and Psychic TV and Fritz Haaman of 23 Skidoo. Tibet often participated in making and producing several records by a number of industrial bands individually or in the name of Current 93. Those industrial bands include the Nurse With Wound, Coil, and some labels producing industrial noise music, such as Dark Vinyl. Among many important figures of the main line of industrial noise music, the network among David Tibet, Steven Stapleton and John Balance is an indispensable one. These people are proficient in various related musical styles from dark ambient to industrial noise music. They sometimes acquired knowledge from each other when working together, thus it is easy to see that in the music of David Tibet/Current 93, there are mainly two important genres of underground industrial music including ambient music and dark industrial. These mixed styles of music represents the development of the industrial noise music. At the same time, as David Tibet used to be a member of Death in June, which is a neo-folk band, the band Current 93 also has some works of neo-folk.
Influences
Tibet believes in mysticism, which derived from several kinds of fields including the realms of religion, philosophy, witchcraft, poetry and paintings. He is always trying to derive inspiration from them, then blends those ideas into his works. Their particular style of music works are closely linked with the mysterious ideas of David Tibet. When talking about the objects which can make David feel energy as well as acquire inspiration, he initially points out religions. In addition to Christianity, he believes Buddhism as well. David Tibet concentrates on Vajrayana, one school of Tibetan Buddhism. He also regards the Padmasambhava as his own tutor. The album "Buddhist Monks of the Maitri Vihar Monastery" of Tibet in the year 1997 is essentially a form of paternoster from Tibetan Buddhism. Tibet always keeps modest towards religions no matter which religion it is. He said that one must have a strong faith when one believes a new religion. David has been influenced by the theories of Aleister Crowley since he was ten years old. The influence by Crowley is apparent in many aspects of Current 93's covers, lyrics and themes. Tibet's lyrical subject matter reflects a consistent preoccupation with all aspects of apocalypse. He has long been a student of Christian eschatology. At a precocious age, he developed a strong interest in Aleister Crowley and the Ordo Templi Orientis. He borrowed the term "93 Current", the current of Thelema or Agape, from Crowley. His initial recording as Current 93, LAShTAL, was, according to Tibet, "the invocation of Malkunofath on the Nightside of Eden, the reverse of the Tree of Life". He has long proclaimed a virtual anathema to Crowleyism and instead has embraced at various intervals, Tibetan Buddhism and esoteric Christianity. His projects continue to focus on the multifaceted aspects of apocalypse, mainly death, loss and destruction. Progressively, his works are tempered by Christian mysticism and an increasingly strong faith in the end of the world. Other influences include Noddy, Gnosticism, Austin Osman Spare, Bobby Beausoleil, and a variety of occult topics. In April 2006, the Ordo Templi Orientis formed the International OTO Cabinet, an advisory, non-voting panel made up of both OTO Initiates and Non-Initiates. David Tibet was named among the initial non-member appointments.
Other activities
He is an established outsider artist and painter with much of his work in well-known galleries such as the Henry Boxer Gallery and Isis Gallery. Tibet's 'The Moons At Your Door,' an anthology of 'strange tales that influenced' Tibet illustrated by his own artwork, was released in Paperback Edition in March 2016. Tibet is interested in the work of Count Stenbock, whose writings he has worked to republish. He also ran the Durtro publishing imprint and record label which has since been replaced by an earlier label, Coptic Cat, where many Durtro releases continue to be available. He attended Newcastle University.
