Recorded in 1985 while the band are at the peak of their popularity in Europe, "Holy Wars" was one of Tuxedomoon's best selling albums, and contains some of their most poignant and moving songs ("Some Guys", "In a Manner of Speaking", "Bonjour Tristesse", "Holy Wars"), as well as new instrumental colours: Blaine Reininger had left the band, and had been replaced by Dutch trumpet and harmonica player Luc van Lieshout. Among other subjects, the lyrics are about wandering in the new European megapolis: Wim Wenders recognized some of his own obsessions, and used "Some Guys" in the opening scenes of "The Sky Above Berlin".