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David Tibet

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David Tibet
David Tibet performing with Current 93 in 2007.
David Tibet performing with Current 93 in 2007.
Background information
Birth nameDavid Michael Bunting
Born (1960-03-05) 5 March 1960 (age 64)
Batu Gajah, Malaysia
OriginEngland
GenresApocalyptic folk, neofolk
LabelsDurtro, Jnana, Coptic Cat
WebsiteDavidtibet.com

David Tibet (born David Michael Bunting; 5 March 1960)[1] 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.

Career

David Bunting was born in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia.[1] Early in his career, he collaborated with Psychic TV and 23 Skidoo. Tibet left Psychic TV in 1983 and founded Current 93 the same year. He has worked with Steven Stapleton of Nurse With Wound (of which band he is a member), Michael Cashmore, Douglas P. (of Death in June, on whose albums he has appeared several times), Steve Ignorant of Crass (using the name "Stephen Intelligent"), Boyd Rice, Little Annie, Björk, Nick Cave, Rose McDowall, Tiny Tim, Annabella Lwin (of Bow Wow Wow) and Ian Read of Fire and Ice.

Tibet is part of a project called Nodding God, whose debut album, 'Play Wooden Child', was released in 2019. Tibet provided the vocals for this album, singing in the Akkadian language. Nodding God also features Andrew Liles, and an anonymous artist credited as the "Underage Shaitan Boy".[2][3]

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 (Fritz Catlin) 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 in Vajrayana Buddhism, and regards the legendary tantric figure 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 (1875–1947, a famous author and mystic in the 20th Century) since he was ten years old. The influence by Crowley is apparent in many aspects of Current 93's covers, lyrics and themes.[4]

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 (despite a strong appreciation for Crowley as an individual) 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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 (1988–2010) which has since been replaced by an earlier label, Coptic Cat, where many Durtro releases continue to be available.[8] He attended Newcastle University.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). "Current 93". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195313734.001.0001. ISBN 9780195313734. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Nodding God 'Play Wooden Child'". PopMatters. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. ^ Clarke, Patrick (9 May 2019). "Nodding God Play Wooden Child". The Quietus. Retrieved 16 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ 巫塔 (15 September 2007). "柔和黑星照耀下——Current 93音乐的神秘主义背景 (评论: Soft Black Stars)". Douban (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Ordo Templi Orientis". Oto.org. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  6. ^ "David Tibet : Henry Boxer Gallery - Visionary Artist". Outsiderart.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. ^ "David Tibet's The Moons At Your Door Paperback Edition Currently Available".
  8. ^ [1] Archived 27 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Parsons, Gary (April 1997). "INTERVIEW WITH DAVID TIBET OF CURRENT 93". FluxEuropa. Archived from the original on 18 October 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2021.

Further reading

  • Keenan, David (2003) England's Hidden Reverse: a secret history of the esoteric underground, London: SAF Publishing.


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