David Tibet (born David Michael Bunting; 5 March 1960)[1] is an English poet, artist and musician. He is best known for the musical group Current 93, which he founded and is the only consistent member of.
He was given the name "Tibet" by Genesis P-Orridge while working with Psychic TV in the early '80s. 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 was first exposed to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism in Malaysia. He also showed an interest in esoteric Christianity from an early age, and still identifies as a Christian.[10]
Tibet's mysticism is derived from such varied fields as religion, philosophy, witchcraft, poetry and painting. As his stage name suggests, he has Vajrayana Buddhist leanings, and regards the legendary tantric figure Padmasambhava as his own tutor. His album Buddhist Monks of the Maitri Vihar Monastery (1997) reflects his interest in Tibetan Buddhism. He also has longstanding interests in Christian mysticism and esoteric Christianity, especially Christian eschatology, and his lyrical subject matter reflects a consistent preoccupation with such apocalyptic imagery as death, loss, and destruction. Other influences include Gnosticism, Austin Osman Spare, and a variety of occult topics.
His interest in Aleister Crowley and Thelema began at age 11 when he purchased The Diary of a Drug FiendatSultan Abdul Aziz Shah AirportinKuala Lumpur.[3] Thelemic concepts appear aspects of the covers, lyrics and themes of Current 93 (including the group's name itself). The initial recording of Current 93, LAShTAL, was, according to Tibet, "the invocation of Malkunofath on the Nightside of Eden, the reverse of the Tree of Life". Despite his continuing appreciation for Crowley as an individual, Tibet has since distanced himself from Crowleyanity. In April 2006, Ordo Templi Orientis formed the International OTO Cabinet, an advisory, non-voting panel made up of both OTO Initiates and Non-Initiates. Tibet was named among the initial non-member appointments.[11]
Although collaborators such as Douglas P. and Boyd Rice have alleged neo-Nazi connections, Tibet himself has referred to Hitler as the antichrist and dedicated the Current 93 song "Hitler as Kalki" to "my father who fought Hitler".[2][12]
Current 93's initial recordings consisted largely of harsh, repetitive industrialnoise and dark ambient soundscapes. The lineup of C93 has changed on each album, although Michael Cashmore has played on every album since Thunder Perfect Mind. Steven StapletonofNurse With Wound has appeared on nearly every Current 93 release, while Tibet has appeared on many Nurse With Wound releases and collaborations with Stapleton. Douglas P., leader of Death in June, appeared on C93 releases from 1987 until 1993, while Tibet was a member of Death in June from the mid-'80s to 1995. Under the influence of Death in June, Tibet began incorporating neo-folk elements that would come to dominate Current 93's music.
Tibet is an established visual artist with much of his work in well-known galleries such as the Henry Boxer Gallery and Isis Gallery.[13] His exhibitions include:
Tibet has created a series of record labels and small publishing houses under the names Ghost Story Press, Jnana Records, Durtro, Coptic Cat, The Spheres, and Cashen's Gap. These businesses publish and release his own work, as well as the work of artists he has collaborated with or has an interest in. The first album by Antony And The Johnsons was released by Durtro.
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.[17] He also was the editor of a follow-up anthology of supernatural short stories, titled "There is a Graveyard that Dwells in Man" published in 2020.[18]
Tibet, David (2008). Faber, Michael; Wodlicka, Tod (eds.). Some Gnostic Cartoons. Isis Editions (London). ISBN978-0-9558774-2-1.
Tibet, David (2014). Sing Omega: Collected Writings and Lyrics from 2013—1983. The Spheres.
Tibet, David (2014). "A Magical Request for Revelation (P. Stras. Inv. Kopt. 550)". In Boud'hors, Anne; Delattre, Alain; Louis, Catherine; Richter, Tonio Sebastian (eds.). Coptica argentoratensia: textes et documents de la troisième université d'été de papyrologie copte (Strasbourg, 18-25 juillet 2010). Cahiers de la Bibliothèque copte. Vol. 19. Paris: De Boccard. ISBN978-2-7018-0372-2. ISSN1968-3553.
Stenbock, Eric Stanislaus (2001). Tibet, David (ed.). The Collected Poems of Count Stenbock. Durtro Press.
Gill, Madge (2013). Tibet, David; Boxer, Henry (eds.). Myrninerest. The Spheres.
Tibet, David, ed. (25 September 2016). The Moons at Your Door: An Anthology of Hallucinatory Tales. National Geographic Books. ISBN978-1-907222-42-9.
Stenbock, Eric Stanislaus (23 June 2020). Of Kings and Things. MIT Press. ISBN978-1-913689-07-0.
Tibet, David, ed. (8 September 2020). There Is a Graveyard That Dwells in Man: More Strange Fiction and Hallucinatory Tales. MIT Press. ISBN978-1-913689-17-9.
