When hot shot guitarist JOHN SYKES quit the TYGERS OF PAN TANG in 1981 he set about forming a fresh band unit entitled BADLANDS. Fronting up the venture would be erstwhile URIAH HEEP man JOHN SLOMAN with WHITESNAKE veteran Neil Murray on bass guitar. The unit demoed but had its prospects cut short when Sykes was enticed into THIN LIZZY. He subsequently of course also then stepped up to WHITESNAKE before flying solo.