The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet first manifested as a musical outfit in 1986 in a banana shed somewhere in the Australian Rainforest under the leadership of Daevid Allen and Ruzz Hibbs

There was a sound that came through the early Gong gigs, particularly during the spacey glissando sections, that sounded like angels singing, they called this 'The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet'. In the '80's Daevid used this concept to bind together a group of flexible personnel, chosen for their ability to channel a quality of music beyond their own normal capabilities. The performances became ritual ceremonies for integrating the group awareness through a wide range of acoustic and metaphysical technologies. Daevid encouraged Ruz to take the lead in the Australian band and allowed it to become primarily Ruz's vehicle.

This first band spent a traumatic six months in the studio recording the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet's first eponymous album 'The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet' (Voiceprint VP106CD) and a limited edition 7" single 'Trial by Headline' (Invisible 1) before engaging on a tour dedicated to the Harmonic Convergence and Earthlink, which involved members of the nascent Kangaroo Moon.

Daevid split for the UK, forming the Invisible's 'Goddess' manifestation. Ruz continued playing healing festivals with the Australian lineup. Meanwhile, Fabio Golfetti and Nelson Coelho formed Opera Invisivel (Versao Tropicale) independently in Brazil with releases including gems such as 'Glissando Spirit'.

Daevid returned to the UK on his 50th Birthday, to do a series of self - initiation playshops and a few low - key gigs. . (some hope). The 'Goddess manifestation', UK Invisibop Band, they can be heard on 'Live spring'88' (GAS Tape) split due to the age old drugs issue and Daevid's discomfort with the radicalized '80's feminism of some of the members

Meanwhile the Australian lineup did loads of wacky gigs including the Harmonic Convergence / Earthlink Tour with Mother Hut as part of a plan to get the whole band over to Machu Pichu - had a jolly good time trying anyway! The band improved by leaps and bounds and started getting serious offers of work. Kavi and Tina left at the end of '88, feelinq that the band was getting too macho & Rock'n'Roll

Gigs had became these huge tribal shambles, Starting with invocations and ending up buried under guesting didgeridoo players - The band split - Tried to reform without Evan - Rehearsed briefly with Peter Mercury (ex Captain Matchbox and Bruce McNichol, from Silly Symphony). Somehow it just wasn't the same - So they went back to Evan on their hands and knees, and he agreed to come back! ...but only on the proviso that they play a decent number of his songs _ They moved to St. Kilda, Melbourne with the intention of seriously 'going for it'
Did Malaney and Bellingen Healing Festivals, and outed their mighty new arrangements, unfortunately, they were far too hard edged and professional for the faerie folk and old fans and the band fizzled out before it really got going. Ruz worked briefly with Harry and Liz van Dort before splitting for the UK to meet up & Tour with Daevid and the New UK Invisible Opera Company of Tibet Formed from a bunch of UK Gong fans at Abbott's instigation. Toured Spring '94 supporting Daevid/Ruz solo shows.
The rest of the band i teamed up with John Howley, an old mate of Daevid's from the Sixties. They appear on 'Every Witches Way' (Voiceprint VP 139CD) which also features Mother Gong and Kangaroo Moon also on the 'Radio Series' CD (Voiceprint)

In a sense every single person on this chart is an honorary member of IOCT, but the band itself seems to have taken on a life of it's own - There are now four different Invisible Opera Companies existing simultaneously (well almost) in the World. as well as the line-ups listed here there is also a Brazilian Opera Invisivel (Versao Tropicale) - Fabio Gofletti and Nelson Coelho - Releases include 'Glissando Spirit'. Very much in the Deya Days/Playbax style
We believe there is also a lineup in the States. We wait for meaningful contact

The flowering of Invisible Opera Bands in the UK, Australia and Brazil has created the possibility of a new kind of musical collective - an international umbrella group consisting of several bands, with shared or compatible songs and music, developing and promoting themselves simultaneously in different world centres.

Following on from the Brazillians' lead, Brian Abbott, who had guested as an honorary goddess in the '88 lineup instigated an independent acid-punk manifestation of the Opera Company out of a bunch of people that had been involved in Daevid Allen's "Zero" Initiation workshops.

This band toured the UK supporting Daevid and Ruz's solo shows and opened up for Gong's 25th Birthday Party at the Forum in London. They released 'Live/Studio' '93 (Tape), Live - 'Totally Bananas '94' (Tape), and 'Jewel in the Lotus' (GAS CD).

Live guests have included: Gilli, Thom the World Poet, Graham Clark, Harry Williamson, Liz van Dort, Claire Jones, Felix (Hi Felix!)

Brian split to join Global and produce a solo album with Jaki Juno. Tim & Jim reformed the Invisibles involving variously; Stevie P. (ex Heathens All, Yü, ...Eat This), Maya (Heathens All) , Maryjane, Nick Harrison (ex Fancabdu) , Brian Gulland (ex Gryphon), and Feliks Tabis: This has included an expansion of musical direction to include experimental forays into mellow funk and world folk grooves.