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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Grab your wellies & rock out at the Download Festival!

May 30th, 2012

When Festivals were first born they were regarded a small and barely talked about event, with a small stage and a few local bands. As time progressed the world began to adapt to the true concept of a music celebration, without boundaries! One of the best and most recognised Festivals of our time is The Woodstock Festival, held for the first time in the summer of 69. With legendary artists included in the line up, such as Jimi Hendrix! Since then the ‘Rolling Stone Magazine’ has listed Woodstock as one of the 50 Moments That Changed The History Of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Now every city and their mother has a music festival and has become dedicated to bring you the best fiery summer festivals! Festivals have become a passion for many people, and the chance to get down and dirty in muddy fields infested with music lovers sells itself! Whether you’re a Metal-head, Rocker or Raver, whether you love to be in thick of a mosh-pit, crowd surfing, or simply chilling out with a cold beer in hand, nothing rivals the thrill of taking in live music with the company of thousands of others.

Alchemy and the best rock festivals come hand-in-hand, and is a great opportunity for you to show off your most extravagant Alchemy possessions! Luckily for all our fans we will be appearing at two of the headlining UK festivals of 2012. Are you going to be joining us? Look out for the Alchemy1977 stand to purchase your favourite pieces at; DOWNLOAD from 8-10th of June and BLOODSTOCK from 9-12th of August. Grab your wellies, rock out and dive into the highlight of the summer season!

Lucy Westenra; the curse of Count Dracula

May 22nd, 2012

Beautiful, innocent and pure, well loved by all who came across her, Lucy Westenra could not have been less deserving of the fate that befell her. Westenra’s frailty and weakness soon began to show; a sign of blood loss, something more sinister, of the vampire Dracula chosing her as his latest victim. Within days, and despite efforts made by her mother and the famed vampire hunter, Doctor Van Helsing, the girl was dead – but that was not to be the end of her story.

Tales of a striking woman who stalked the night in search of the blood of small children soon began to circulate – Lucy lived again, though this time as one of the sentient undead; a vampire created in Dracula’s own shadow.

Designed to hide the bite that lingers beneath, Lucy’s lavishly delicate jugular garnish conceals the punctures of the Count Dracula. The stunning Westenra choker (P593), with it’s intricate pewter work, studded with green crystals and strung on a wide black ribbon for true baroque style, accompanied in the form of the wonderfully decadent earrings (E289), create the perfect complete Lucy Westenra’s post-Whitby jewel set.

To order your very own Lucy Westenra jewellery set, you can browse the Alchemy dealer page at: http://www.alchemyengland.com/buy

Tattoo’s for you?

May 18th, 2012


Whether you have tattoos or not, whether you admire tattoos from a far, too scared to take the plunge for fear of pain, or fear of making a terrible mistake that cannot be corrected! Perhaps the mere thought of a tattoo conjures up images of body mutilation. Whatever you opinion you cannot hide from the phenomenon tattoos are here to stay! No longer are they a trophy of a drunken night in the forces. But arguably a form of art and most certainly a way of self expression.

Here at Alchemy the home of self expression and the alternative lifestyle. We strived to create a range that inspired and captivate the largely neglected male ‘dudes’. A ground breaking collection of urban accessories was born. The range was named UL13. That was 2008 and in 2009 due to much screaming and jumping up and down from our customers and fans alike, The brand UL13 unleashed its baby sister, UL17 ‘angelic accessories’ for the naughty angels!

This Summer sees the release of a new collection to compliment the soul of the two ranges. Our designers have drawn upon the classic retro and rock symbolism that originally inspired them. To create truly unique designs that will take the scene by storm.

Be one of the first to receive the Alchemy UL13/UL17 new release flyer by email, just fill in the form below:

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The Queen’s Jubilee is fast approaching

May 14th, 2012

There are now only 3 weeks to go until the whole Nation will be celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee!

With the upcoming Olympic games and a Jubilee year in which The Queen will become only the second British Monarch to reign for 60 years (along with her Great, Great-Grandmother, Queen Victoria) the British economy is to expect a much welcomed boost, with everyone looking forward to a 4 day weekend at the start of summer, along with the general ‘feel good factor’ the jubilee celebrations will create, as with the wedding of HRH Prince William & Kate Middleton in 2011.

Parties and celebrations will be held all over the commonwealth to mark this spectacular occasion, and the two day bank holiday will be well received by many!

Here at Alchemy HQ we will be celebrating the Friday before. With a bit of bunting, a piece of cake and some old school coronation chicken! We are expecting busy times here and we will be working hard to ensure our shops & sites are fully stocked for this great celebration!

Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll!!! The Sex Pistols

May 10th, 2012

Sid Vicious

Today would have been the 55th birthday of Punk & Sex Pistols legend John Simon Ritchie, better known as ‘Sid Vicious’.

Ritchie who later took his stepfathers surname ‘Beverley’ was given the nickname “Sid Vicious” by John Lydon, after being bit by Lydon’s pet hamster, Sid.

Sid was not an original member of the band and it was only following the departure Glen Matlock in February 1977 that Vicious was asked to join the group. According to various publications the decision was made due to him being present at every one of their gigs. Manager Malcolm McLaren once claimed “if Johnny Rotten is the voice of punk, then Vicious is the attitude.”

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!

The 27th of this month will also mark 35 years since the release of the bands second single ‘God Save The Queen’. Launched less than 2 weeks before The Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977, the song caused much controversy and prompted widespread outcry, resulting in the hit being banned by the BBC and every independent radio station, making it the “most heavily censored record in British history”.

Unfortunately In February 1979 Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose. However in February 2006, he was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the 4 other members of the Sex Pistols.

The Sex Pistols are considered responsible by many for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians. It was in the Summer of 1977 in the back room of a semi-derelict, Dickensian squat in the ancient, run-down West End of Leicester, a scrawny punk with barely enough cash to feed himself and afford the occasional luxury of a hard earned pint, dreamed of saving towards buying that ferry ticket to Elysium; the Hook of Holland, to the start of a new life.

With a smoking pan of molten lead off a one-ringed stove the punk with his hands, tight T-shirt and ripped jeans caked in a patina of black paint and lead dust, would slink off down to the local pub venue to traffic his rare, illicit wares in a miasma of noise and darkness at the chaotic Penetration gig selling cast lead badges; Motorhead, Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden, safety pins and ‘toilet seats’ and the like & It was here the story of Alchemy1977 began….