London’s 2012 Summer Olympics will be the biggest event in the UK this year. It’s the third time that England’s capital has hosted the games and very soon almost 200 countries will be competing against each other in 26 different sporting activities. We’re are now just 2 days away from the massive opening ceremony, which will kick-start the competitive event.
 
The Olympic games originated in Ancient Greece where they were held every four years at Olympia in honour of Zeus, the king of their gods. They are believed to have begun around 776 BC as a much smaller event with fewer, male-only participants. Back then, you’d have been just as likely to see athletes taking part in chariot racing as wrestling! Naturally, times have changed and nowadays not only are women allowed to compete but we’ve also got inspiring events such as the Paralympic Games too.

 In honour of the Olympics’ origins, Alchemy invites you to explore two famous Hellenic myths through our English-crafted jewellery. The Gorgon’s Eye ring [R.153] and belt buckle [B.77] both pay homage to the snake-haired gorgon Medusa and Icarus Ex Machina necklace [P.556] is a steampunk interpretation of Icarus’ wax and feather wings as created by his dad!

You can order the Gorgon’s Eye Beltbuckles by browsing our recommended online dealers at

www.alchemyengland.com/buy

In one of the more unorthodox diplomatic initiatives of recent years, a French petition is being submitted to Her Majesty the Queen of England, demanding the Crown Jewels. The petition originates from Angers, a city around 300km west of Paris, which was once capital of the historic province of Anjou. This lies at the root of the demand, as Anjou was ancestral home to the Plantagenet dynasty, the family that ruled England for much of the Middle Ages. Such distinguished monarchs as Richard the Lionheart and Henry V, hero of Agincourt, all descended from the Plantagenet line.

That line was severed in 1499, when Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick, was beheaded at the command of Henry VII, the first of England’s Tudor kings. Now the citizens of Angers want compensation for this 500-year-old injustice. With interest… This would be a considerable sum, but in recognition of the difficult times we now face, they are willing to accept a substitute. Namely the British Crown Jewels. A spokesman for Angers council confessed that, while their petition had ‘little chance of success’, it was worth reminding Britons of the ‘state crime’ of Edward’s ‘unfair and horrible death’, and encouraged tourists to visit the city.

The petition already has several hundred signatures, and though we at Alchemy wouldn’t support the campaign as it stands, we certainly do approve of visiting beautiful historic cities like Angers, which boasts a wealth of stunning medieval architecture. We also like to draw attention to – and inspiration from – Europe’s rich historical heritage. Such as with our ornate Plantagenet wine glass, the perfect receptacle with which to toast England’s most esteemed medieval dynasty.
To buy your very own visit www.alchemyengland.com/buy

An antique vampire-hunting kit, auctioned by the English firm Tennants last weekend easily exceeded estimates when it sold for £7,500 (around $11,500 or 9,500 Euros). Consisting of a mahogany case containing such slaying staples as a crucifix, stakes, a pistol and a rosary, the auctioneer’s valuer, Oonagh Drage, observed that it was “probably a novelty thing. It’s playing to people’s superstitions.” Similar kits have sporadically surfaced for sale at auction houses since the 1970s, and now occasionally appear on online bidding sites, but remain controversial.

While few experts believe that they were ever truly sold in the 1800s to protect travellers from the undead, some, like Ms Drage, suggest that they might have been marketed as Victorian Gothic novelties. Several well-informed sceptics – like Jonathan Ferguson, curator of firearms at the Leeds Royal Armouries – have cast doubt on the idea that any of the vampire-hunting kits are authentic antiques. Yet it was Mr Ferguson who made the winning bid on the museum’s behalf. “We’ve yet to establish a firm date for our kit, but we know it will attract a lot of interest from our museum visitors”, he said.

While here at Alchemy we wouldn’t like to be seen as promoting vampire-hunting – some of our best friends are undead – anybody looking to sport a crucifix motif is spoilt for choice by our range, featuring everything from the subtle Pugin’s Cross ring to the flamboyance of the Torquemada Cross-Tegere earring. Dedicated foes of the denizens of darkness might also like to consider the Eschat Pinn or Death of a Vampire – two pendants with stake motifs that should show even the bloodthirstiest ghouls that you mean business…

Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods awards night returned this Monday, celebrating the best of Metal from the last 12 months! The demonic Golden Gods made right here at the Alchemy Studios, has proven to be a massive hit with both the exciting newcomers and long-standing legends at Metal Hammer magazine’s annual awards. Lifted high by the likes of Slipknot and Saxon and lauded as ‘cute’ by none other than Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot, our accolade of iconic design is fast becoming an object of desire for some of metal’s finest. Hosted the day after Download’s 10th anniversary festival, there was a special edition to this years ceremony with an award for the Best Download Moment ever!

Awarded to Slipknot for their epic headline set of 2009, frontman Corey Taylor was presented on stage at Download last week by Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas and Download organiser Andy Copping. As you can see from the video below, things got pretty emotional.

Alchemy1977 have teamed up with Fantom online cards to create a new online gothic card game – Skullquest. Trade and collect 48 quest cards, from skulls and dragons to witches and wizards. Collect all the quest cards and you are in with a chance of winning the Skull Cup – a finely crafted, limitedly available goblet!

Collect and connect with other Alchemy Skullquest players from across the globe and delve deeper into the Alchemy Gothic world. Fantom is a relatively new game boasting a new slant at traditional card games by creating an online world around them.

It is easy and free to join, fun to play and there are prizes that are available for many. But, only one of the true bloodline will win the Skullcup!

Start your quest here: http://alchemy.fantom.tv/

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!

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

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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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….