January
North east gigs
2/1/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/1/72 Rory Gallagher and Nazareth appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
9/1/72 Argent appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
13/1/72 Atomic Rooster appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
15/1/72 Ashton Gardner & Dyke appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/1/72 Ashton Gardner & Dyke appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/1/72 Fleetwood Mac appear at Top rank, Sunderland
21/1/72 Procul Harum and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City hall
21/1/72 Slade and Armada appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
23/1/72 Ralph McTell appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/1/72Armada appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
27/1/72 Pink Floyd appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/1/72 Stackridge appear at Van Mildert College, Durham
29/1/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at Durham University
Happening Elsewhere
Pete Sinfield quits King Crimson. The group begin rehearsals for a US tour but a disagreement between Robert Fripp and the other members causes a split. A temporary reconciliation enables the tour to go ahead but Crimson break up again at its conclusion.
David Bowie causes a stir by claiming to be gay in an interview with Melody Maker.
Henry McCulloch (ex-Grease Band & Eire Apparent guitarist) joins Paul McCartney’s Wings.
Allan Clarke quits The Hollies and is replaced by Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors.
Free reform and announce tours of Japan and Britain.
Magna Carta guitarist Davey Johnstone joins Elton John’s band.
Mike Harrison, former Spooky Tooth vocalist, joins Carlisle based group Junkyard Angels.
In the charts
1 I’d Like To Teach The Word To Sing – New Seekers
10 No Matter How I Try – Gilbert O’Sullivan
20 Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
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February
North east gigs
1/2/72 Free and Junkyard Ange appear at Newcastle City Hall
3/2/72 Steeleye Span appear at Durham University
3/2/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Technical College
4/2/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at New castle City Hall
5/2/72 Black Sabbath and Wild Turkey appear at the Newcastle City Hall
6/2/72 Nazareth appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
10/2/72 Home appear at Teeside Polytech
12/2/72 Gary Farr appear at Kirklevington Country Club
12/2/72 Wishbone Ash and Glencoe appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/2/72 Free, Vinegar Joe and Junkyard Angels appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
18/2/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/2/72 Climax Chicago Blues Band appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
19/2/72 Free and UFO appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
20/2/72 Argent, Beggars Opera, Beckett and Brass Alley appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
20/2/72 Strawbs appear at Darlington Civic Hall
20/2/72 Gary Wright’s Wonder Wheel appear at Newcastle University
20/2/72 Home appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
20/2/72 Hawkwind appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
21/2/72 Free appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/2/72 Jethro Tull and Tir Na Nog appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/2/72 The Strawbs appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/72 Price and Fame appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
25/2/72 Genesis appear at Locarno, Sunderland
26/2/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Durham University
27/2/72 Beggars Opera appear Excel Bowl, Middllesbrough
27/2/72 Stud appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
28/2/72 Manitas De Plata appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/2/72 David Bowie appear at Locarno, Sunderland
Happening Elsewhere
Paul McCartney and Wings play a series of unannounced live shows at Universities around Britain. Meanwhile, the BBC bans the group’s new single for being ‘politically controversial’.
A power cut causes Pink Floyd’s concert at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester to be abandoned after 25 minutes. Many concerts around the country are cancelled owing to the power shortages.
Chris Farlowe joins Atomic Rooster as vocalist, replacing Pete French who moves to America.
Guitarist Chris Spedding quits the Jack Bruce Band because of musical differences.
Steamhammer drummer Mick Bradley dies suddenly of leukaemia aged just 25.
Led Zeppelin are voted Top Group in the world by Disc readers. T Rex win the Top Group in Britain award. The Who are Top Live Group and Lindisfarne are “Brightest Hope for ‘72”.
Rhythm guitarist Pat Fairley quits performing with Marmalade. He plans to concentrate on the band’s business affairs.
Bell + Arc officially split up. The group’s existing concert commitments are fulfilled by vocalist Graham Bell with a pick-up band.
Hawkwind are robbed of a substantial amount of equipment including amplifiers and microphones, forcing them to cancel several concerts.
In the charts
1 Telegram Sam – T.Rex
10 Brand New Key – Melanie
20 Got To Be There – Michael Jackson
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March
North east gigs
2/3/72 Roy Harper appear at Newcastle City Hall
1/3/72 Hookfoot appear at Top Deck, Redcar
2/3/72 Slade appear at Locarno, Sunderland
3/3/72 Quintessence appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
3/3/72 Humble Pie appear at Durham University
4/3/72 Groundhogs, Man and Help Yourself appear at Longscar Hall, Hartlepool
5/3/72 Rod Stewart & The Faces and Byzantium appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
7/3/72 Jethro Tull and Tir Na Nog appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/3/72 Incredible String Band appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
9/3/72 Procul Harum appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
12/3/72 Jackson Heights appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
16/3/72 Mungo Jerry appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/3/72 Gallagher & Lyle appear at Kirklevington Country Club
17/3/72 Morgan appear at Middlesbrough Polytech
17/3/72 Jethro Tull appear at ABC, Stockton
23/3/72 Barclay James Harvest, Tree and Matthew Ellis appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/3/72 Chicken Shack and Groundhogs appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
24/3/72 David Bowie, Armada and Patch appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
25/3/72 Head Hands & Feet and Patto appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/72 Rory Gallagher and Byzantium appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/72 Armada appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
30/3/72 Slade appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
Happening Elsewhere
The T Rex concerts at Wembley’s Empire Pool are filmed for an intended movie titled “Born To Boogie”. Ringo Starr is the Director. Prior to these concerts T Rex tour the USA. Uriah Heep are the main support group but friction between the two camps results in their removal from the tour.
Guitarist Davy O’List leaves Roxy Music. He is replaced by Phil Manzanera, formerly with Quiet Sun. Roxy begin work on their debut album with Pete Sinfield producing, after the Island label win the race to sign them up.
Bass player Mark Clarke quits Uriah Heep in the middle of their US tour. Clarke had only been with Heep since the previous December when he joined them following Colosseum’s split. Gary Thain from the Keef Hartley Band joins Heep as Clarke’s replacement.
London’s Rainbow Theatre closes only 4 months after opening when the proprietors run into financial difficulties.
Archie Leggett quits the bass player’s spot in Wonderwheel. He’s replaced by Tom Duffy (ex-Bell + Arc).
In the charts
1 Without You – Nilsson
10 Meet Me On The Corner – Lindisfarne
20 Desiderate – Les Crane
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April
North east gigs
2/4/72 Glencoe appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
2/4/72 Quintessence appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
5/4/72 Marmalade appear at the Tavern, South Shields
7/4/72 Edgar Broughton band appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
9/4/72 UFO appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
13/4/72 Morgan appear at Middlesbrough Polytech
13/4/72 Mott The Hoople and Hackensack appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/4/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
14/4/72 Dave Edmunds appear Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
14/4/72 Renaissance appear at Sunderland Art College
14/4/72 Wishbone Ash appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/4/72 Head Hands and Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/4/72 Curved Air and Gary Moore Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/4/72 East Of Eden appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
26/4/72 Curved Air appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
27/4/72 John Mayall and Matching Mole appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/4/72 Hawkwind appear at Locarno, Sunderland
28/4/72 Brinsley Schwartz and Sandgate appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/4/72 Fairport Convention appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
Happening Elsewhere
Edgar Broughton Group lose most of their stage equipment in an avalanche in Norway!
Three members of Man are beaten up by a gang of ‘Rockers’ in Swansea.
Deep Purple are forced to abandon their US tour when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore contracts hepatitis. Randy California of Spirit stands in for a couple of dates but the other members of Purple eventually decide to cancel the remaining dates.
Steamhammer sign 21 year-old drummer John Lingwood as their new drummer to replace the deceased Mick Bradley. They are also joined by singer Ian Ellis (ex-Clouds).
It’s confirmed that Jess Roden has quit Bronco to go solo.
The Sweet are banned by Mecca ballrooms following an alleged “suggestive stage act” at Portsmouth Locarno.
In the charts
1 Without You – Nilsson
10 Heart Of Gold – Neil Young
20 Mother And Child Reunion – Paul Simon
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May
North east gigs
5/5/72 Steeleye Span and Amazing Blondel appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
5/5/72 Lindisfarne and Flash appear at Newcastle University
10/5/72 The Doors, Sandy Denny and Hawkwind appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/5/72 Head Hand & Feet and Vinegar Joe appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
14/5/72 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/5/72 Argent appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
17/5/72 Shirley Bassey appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/5/72 ELO and Colin Blunstone appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/5/72 If and Genesis appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
22/5/72 Uriah Heap appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/5/72 Gypsy and Morgan appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
26/5/72 Marmalade appear at Sunderland Polytech
27/5/72 Gypsy and Morgan appear at Sunderland Polytech
28/5/72 Skin Alley appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
30/5/72 Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come appear at Newcastle City Hall
Happening Elsewhere
Lindisfarne make several appearances on BBC radio during May; on the Jimmy Young show on 8th, Johnny Walker show on the 15th and the Alan Freeman show on the 22nd.
In the charts
1 Amazing Grace – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
10 Back Off Boogaloo – Ringo Starr
20 Until It’s Time For You To Go – Elvis Presley
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June
North east gigs
2/6/72 David Bowie appear at Newcastle City Hall
2/6/72 Hookfoot and Flash appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
3/6/72 Kinks appear at Newcastle City Hall
5/6/72 Renaissance appear at Change Is, Newcastle
5/6/72 Spencer Davis Group appear at Top Deck, Redcar
8/6/72 Lindisfarne, Capability Brown and Beckett appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
8/6/72 David Bowie appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
8/6/72 Capability Brown appear at Locarno, Sunderland
8/6/72 Lindisfarne appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
9/6/72 Sha Na Na and Ashton Gardnet & Dyke appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
11/6/72 Genesis appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
11/6/72 Paladin appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/6/72 Argent and Sutherland Brothers appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
16/6/72 Trapeze appear at Locarno, Sunderland
17/6/72 Caravan, Khan and Parlour Band appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
17/6/72 Hookfoot appear at Durham University
18/6/72 Slowbone appear at Ron’s Place, Stockton
22/6/72 Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come appear at Trevelyan College, Durham
23/6/72 Genesis, Al Stewart, Lindisfarne and Bridget St John appear at Durham Castle
23/6/72 Family and Audience appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
24/6/72 T Rex appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/6/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
30/6/72 stone the Crows and Paladin appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/6/72 Stackridge appear at Northumberland College, Newcastle
Happening Elsewhere
The Rolling Stones begin a notorious tour of the USA, their first for 3 years.
Ashton Gardner & Dyke disband having “Gone as far as they could go”.
Alex Harvey joins with members of Scots group Teargas to form The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Ray Davies is involved in an altercation with members of Slade in the BBC bar following an appearance on Top Of The Pops. Jim Lea allegedly has a pint of beer poured over him after “congratulating Davies on his performance”. The BBC deny all knowledge of the incident.
Roxy Music featuring north east vocalist Bryan Ferry appear on BBC TV’s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 20th June.
In the charts
1 Metal Guru – T.Rex
10 Sister Jane – New World
20 Leeds United – Ledds United F.C.
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July
North east gigs
1/7/72 If and Help Yourself appear at Stockton Town Hall
7/7/72 Stray and Third Ear Band appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
14/7/72 Atomic Rooster and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
16/7/72 Genesis appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/7/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
21/7/72 Dando Shaft appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/7/72 Mott The Hoople and Beckett and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
Happening Elsewhere
Roy Wood quits ELO, leaving Jeff Lynne as undisputed leader of the group.
North east drummer, Alan White replaces Bill Bruford as drummer with Yes. White has just three days in which to learn his drum parts before Yes commence their fourth US tour.
Andy Fraser walks out on Free prior to a scheduled Japanese tour.
Paul McCartney and Wings tour Europe aboard a double-decker London bus.
John Wetton leaves Family owing to the usual musical differences and is replaced by ex-Blossom Toes and Stud guitarist Jim Cregan.
In the charts
1 Puppy Love – Donny Osmond
10 Rockin’ Robin – Michael Jackson
20 Little Bit Of Love – Free
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August
North east gigs
6/8/72 Quintessence appear at Hartlepool Borough Hall
11/8/72 Brinsley Shcwartz, Amazing Blondel and Fat Grapple and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
18/8/72 Vinegar Joe, Chicken Shack and Brass Alley and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
25/8/72 Curved Air and Glencoe appear at Newcastel City Hall
27/8/72 Beggars Opera, UFO and Sandgate appear at Mayfair Newcastle
31/8/72 Elton John appear at Newcastle City Hall
Happening Elsewhere
Roy Wood springs a surprise by quitting the Electric Light Orchestra, a project he had been planning for several years, leaving Jeff Lynne as leader. Wood forms a Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival group, Wizzard.
Jeff Beck breaks up his group and forms a new trio with Tim Bogart and Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge.
John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick and Tetsu Yamauchi are enlisted by Free, on keyboards and bass respectively.
Van Der Graaf Generator split up again. Peter Hammill plans a solo recording career.
T
he planned Great Western Festival, due for the Bank Holiday weekend, is scrapped when The Rolling Stones state that they won’t be appearing.
Wings’ Euro tour is marred when the group are arrested on drug charges.
In the charts
1 School’s Out – Alice Cooper
10 You Wear It Well – Rod Stewart
20 The Locomotion – Little Eva
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September
North east gigs
5/9/72 David Bowie appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
12/9/72 Yes appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/9/72 Free and Smith, Perkins & Smith appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/9/72 Free and Hackensack appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/9/72 Stone The Crows, tennet and Morrson appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/9/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
20/9/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/9/72 Juicy Lucy and Bullfrog and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
24/9/72 Deep Purple appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/9/72 Status Quo appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
25/9/72 UFO, Beckett and Lloyd Watson appear Newcastle City Hall
28/9/72 Lindisfarne, Genesis and Rab Noakes appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/9/72 Kinks appear at Newcastle University
29/9/72 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Durham University
Happening Elsewhere
Glam Rock invades the USA as Slade, David Bowie and T Rex all begin tours in New York.
Dave Ball is replaced as Procol Harum lead guitarist by ex-Cochise man Mick Grabham.
Ex-Tyrannosaurus Rex member Steve Peregrine Took signs a management deal with Tony Secunda, who had handled the affairs of a certain Marc Bolan until a surprise split between them earlier in the year.
Free cancel several dates of their tour after Paul Kossoff trips over some wires and knocks himself out during rehearsals. He’s found to be suffering from concussion.
In the charts
1 Mama Wear All Crazee Now – Slade
10 Children Of The Revolution – T.Rex
20 Wig Wam Ban – Sweet
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October
North east gigs
4/10/72 Free appear at Durham University
6/10/72 Steppenwolf and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
7/10/72 Rare Bird appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytech
11/10/72 Free and Beckett appear at Sunderland Locarno
12/10/72 Jackson Heights and Magna Carta appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/10/72 Free appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
15/10/72 Head hand & Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/1072 Free and Beckett appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
22/10/72 Stackridge appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/10/72 Steeleye Span and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City Hall
27/10/72 Beggars Opera appear at Top rank, Sunderland
27/10/72 Glencoe appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/10/72 Pretty Things appear at Newcastle University
27/10/72 Quiver and Nazareth and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
29/10/72 Ten Years After appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/10/72 Pentangel appear at Newcastle City Hall
Happening Elsewhere
Joe Cocker is convicted on drugs charges in Australia.
In the charts
1 Mouldy Old Dough – Lietenant Pigeon
10 Too Young – Donny Osmond
20 Goodbye To Love – Carpenters
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November
North east gigs
1/11/72 Humble Pie appear at Odeon, Newcastle
3/11/72 Slade and Thin Lizzy appear at Newcastle City Hall
3/11/72 Fleetwood Mac appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
3/11/72 Argent and Babe Ruth appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
10/11/72 Fairport Convention appear at Top rank, Sunderland
10/11/72 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle University
10/11/72 Blackfoot Sue and Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
11/11/72 Roxy Music and East Of Eden appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/11/72 Free appear Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/11/72 Pretty Things appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytech
17/11/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle University
19/11/72 Cat Stevens appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/11/72 Bridget St John appear at barnes Hotel, Sunderland
21/11/72 Bridget St John appear at Corner House, Newcastle
22/11/72 Santana appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/11/72 Slade and Thin Lizzy appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
23/11/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/11/72 Spontaneous Combustion, ELO and Babe Ruth appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/11/72 camel appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
26/11/72 Groundhogs, Stray and gentle Giant appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/11/72 ELP appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/11/72 Led Zeppelin appear at Newcastle City Hall
Happening Elsewhere
Juicy Lucy split up, and so do jazz-rockers If.
Ex-Free bassman Andy Fraser forms a new group, The Sharks. Noted session guitarist and former member of Pete Brown’s band Chris Spedding is also featured in the group.
Barclay James Harvest agree to undertake no further visits to South Africa, having come under fire from many Student Unions for playing to segregated audiences on a recent tour.
100,000 tickets for Led Zeppelin’s upcoming British tour reputedly sell out within four hours of going on sale.
In the charts
1 Clair – Gilbert O’Sullivan
10 Crazy Horses – Osmonds
20 You’re A Lady – Peter Skellern
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December
North east gigs
6/12/72 Sandy Denny and John Martyn appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/12/72 Incredible String Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/12/72 Faces appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/12/72 King Crimson appear at Odeon, Newcastle
8/12/72 Velvet Underground and Goldie and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
10/12/72 Incredible String Band appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/12/72 Hawkwind appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
15/12/72 Hawkwind appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/12/72 Man appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
17/12/72 Family appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/12/72 Beggars Opera appear at Top rank, Sunderland
Happening Elsewhere
An All-Star performance of The Who’s ‘Tommy’ is staged at London’s Rainbow Theatre.
Yet another Wings single is banned by the BBC. ‘Hi Hi Hi’ gets the cold shoulder because of ‘blatant sexual implications’.
The Marc Bolan/T Rex movie ‘Born To Boogie’ is premiered in London (14th) and is savaged by the critics. Bolan also claims that a T Rex cartoon series will be produced during 1973. It isn’t.
In the charts
1 My Ding-A-Ling – Chuck Berry
10 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Plastic Ono Band
20 Little Drummer Boy – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards