The Badgeman, a four-piece indie rock band from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was formed in 1988 by John Packwood on guitar, Tim Kerley on drums, Neale Hancock on vocals and guitar, and Simon Wigglesworth on bass. The group initially released "Go Insane!" on a shared flexi disc with fellow Salisbury band The Mayfields, which led to their signing with Glass Records in 1989. Their debut album Kings of the Desert, released in January 1990 under Paperhouse Records, received favorable reviews and included the single "Crystals". The Badgeman toured Europe with Teenage Fanclub in 1990 and released the EP Curse of The Badgeman in 1991. Their final album, Ritual Landscape, was released in early 1992 but initially met with critical and commercial failure. Despite this, it was later recognized as an artistic triumph, notably being named "Unsung Album Of The Month" by musician Julian Cope. Following the release of Ritual Landscape, The Badgeman split up, with Hancock, Wigglesworth, and Kerley forming the band Big Bird.
