Desert shady type losing the head in The Magic Bar

I believe the answer is:

wasteland

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'desert' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for wasteland that I've seen before include "Barren area" , "Barren tract" , "desolation" , "Lewd Santa included in 'The . . . . . . . . .', poem by T S Eliot" , "Useless tract" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app