Top Ten Times Aleister Crowley Has Been Referenced in Music

Who is Aleister Crowley?

Aleister Crowley (10/12/1875-12/1/1947), sometimes dubbed "The Wickedest Man in the World" and "The Beast 666," was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, author, poet, Freemason, and mountaineer. He identified himself as a prophet and founded the religion of Thelema. The religion/philosophy emphasizes the ritual practice of Magick.

He was a super weird dude who claimed to be able to communicate with beings from other dimensions, extraterrestrials, the dead, and other entities through rituals, magick, sex, and drug use. He also believed in human sacrifices and "sex magick."

I don't follow or believe in Crowley's teachings or practices (for the most part), but I've read about him for years because I find him interesting. I made this list because I thought it was interesting that so many musicians admire or even follow his teachings. (Not that it's a bad thing, just whatev's, ya know?)

Other musicians who admire or have mentioned Aleister Crowley: The Red Hot Chili Peppers (John Frusciante), Tool, Mudvayne, Rob Zombie, The Police (Sting), Ministry, and Hall and Oates (Daryl Hall... I know, right? Lol), to name a few.

Also, please note I don't think he's "evil" or "Satanic," nor do I admire him. It is what it is and nothing more.

The Top Ten

Mr. Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne

Mr. Crowley is Aleister Crowley. Ozzy is a known admirer of Crowley and once called Crowley "a phenomenon of his time."
Moonchild - Iron Maiden

Based (loosely) on the Aleister Crowley novel by the same name.
"We've referred to things like the tarot and ideas of people like Aleister Crowley." - Bruce Dickinson, 1984.
Doors 13 Back Album Cover

The band poses with a statue of Aleister Crowley's bust on the back album cover. Crowley was really into numerology (part of the occult), so I find it interesting that he's on the "13" cover.
Note: 11, 22, 33, and 13 are very significant and important numbers in numerology.
Quicksand - David Bowie

A song that seems to be about the occult. "Crowley" and the "Golden Dawn" are referenced in the song's opening lines.
Note: "Golden Dawn" was a magical society that Aleister Crowley was a member of, along with others mentioned in the song (Winston Churchill, Heinrich Himmler, and Juan Pujol).
The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band Album Cover

Aleister Crowley is among their "heroes" on the album cover.
John Lennon - "The whole Beatle idea was to do what you want… do what thou wilt, as long as it doesn't hurt somebody."
Misery Machine - Marilyn Manson

"We're gonna ride to the abbey of Thelema
To the abbey of Thelema
Blood is pavement."
Note: This song is the 13th and final song from the album "Portrait of an American Family."
Thelema (album) - Murder City Devils

Thelema is a religion (some say philosophy) created by Aleister Crowley. It is based on his writings titled "The Book of the Law." Crowley claims he was contacted by a "praeterhuman" being named "Aiwass" who dictated the text. I find his drawing of what "Aiwass" looked like to be very interesting.
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page Bought and Lived in Aleister Crowley's Home in Scotland. Parts of Their Film "The Song Remains the Same" is Filmed at the House.

No wonder David Bowie was afraid of Jimmy Page.
Moonchild - Fields of the Nephilim
Phil Anselmo Used the Alias "Anton Crowley" For Several Side Projects

He combined Anton LaVey (founder of The Church of Satan) and Aleister Crowley's names for his alias.