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Newsboys


Australian Christian Pop Rock Band
Years Active 1985-present
Genres CCM

Christian Pop
Christian Rock

Labels Inpop

Star Song
Sparrow
Virgin
Refuge Records

Website newsboys.com

Newsboys is an award-winning Australian Christian adoptive Pop/Rock band formed in 1985.

History[]

Early On[]

In Australia in 1985, drummer and Natalie Bryant's past Newsboys United twin/love interest named Peter Furler and guitarist George Perdikis formed a band called "The News". Vocalist John James joined a year later, invited because they needed a lead singer, and so was bassist Sean Taylor, In 1987, they recorded the demo tape He's Coming Back. The News decided to travel to America in order to gain more success. However, once there, they changed their name to be different than the group Huey Lewis and The News. They released their first album, Read All About It, with Refuge Records in 1988. They released Hell Is For Wimps and Boys Will Be Boyz in 1990 and 1991, respectively, both with Star Song Communications. All three albums didn't sell very well and their label did not encourage them to continue.

Success[]

In 1992, their fourth album, Not Ashamed, was released. The song I'm Not Ashamed became a hit on Christian Radio. Steve Taylor helped out on this album, and this may have been the reason for the instant success. However, Not Ashamed couldn't come close to equaling the success of their fifth album: Going Public (released 1994). It won a Dove Award for best rock album of the year. The biggest single from the album was Shine. It was a smash-hit on Christian Radio, and Newsboys became one of the most popular Christian bands of the time. Around the time of Going Public, bassist Phil Joel, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein, and guitarist Jody Davis were added to the band. Their sixth album, Take Me to Your Leader, was released in 1996. It produced hits such as Breakfast and the title song. However, John James left the band in late 1997 due to an addiction with drugs. Peter Furler shifted to vocals, and Duncan Phillips took over with drums.

Post-James[]

Newsboys' seventh studio album, Step Up to the Microphone (released 1998 with new record label Sparrow Records), still proved to be a success despite the change in vocals, as evidenced by the hit Entertaining Angels. Their eighth studio album, Love Liberty Disco, is very different than the first seven, as it seems to be a disco music album. It was released in 1999. Nevertheless, it still had hits such as Beautiful Sound and the title track. In July 1999, Furler and the band's manager Wes Campbell founded Inpop Records, a record label featuring some famous Christian artists. Newsboys didn't join Inpop, however, until 2006, leaving Sparrow.

Newsboys at Creation 2007

Newsboys at Creation 2007

Twenty First Century[]

In 2000, Newsboys released their first compilation, Shine: The Hits. It included 3 new songs, Joy, Who?, and Praises, two of which went to #1. In 2002, their ninth studio album: Thrive, was released. It featured the major hit: the worshipful It Is You. Next year, Newsboys released their first worship album: Adoration: The Worship Album. He Reigns and You Are My King (Amazing Love) became two more hit singles. A follow-up worship album, Devotion, was released the next year as Newsboys' eleventh album. The title track and Presence (My Heart's Desire) were the main singles for this album, which was not as big as its predecessor. Bryan Olesen replaced Jody Davis at this time, due to his sick daughter. Oleson left in 2006, replaced by Paul Colman. In 2006, Newsboys released GO, with a return to pop and rock. Hits included a live version of I Am Free, the opening track Wherever We Go, and Something Beautiful. Phil Joel left the band after this album. In late 2007, Newsboys released another compilation, The Greatest Hits. It included two new songs, Stay Strong and I Fought the La..., and in late 2008 Newsboys released Houston We Are GO, a live CD/DVD.

Newsboys

Newsboys in 2009

Present[]

In January 2009, Paul Colman left the band, replaced by the returning Jody Davis. Michael Tait of dc Talk was announced to be the new lead singer of Newsboys in March 2009, Furler would sing on the band's newest album and a little on tours, while Tait would be the lead singer on Newsboys tours. In the Hands of God, Newsboys thirteenth studio album, was released in May. Furler sang on the album, with Tait on backing vocals during Glorious. A new version of Glorious was released to radio in August 2009, but this time with Tait as the lead singer. The band started their The Way We Roll Tour October, 2009, and continued until 2010. Tait sang lead vocals on the tour, as Furler made his last appearance until 2019 with the band at Disney's Night of Joy on September 11, 2009. Their fourteenth album, called Born Again was released on July 13th 2010, the first with Tait on lead vocals. The title track has become the album's lead single, and has achieved radio success. The next single from the album, "Way Beyond Myself", was sent to radio in September 2010. It was announced that Newsboys' first Christmas project, titled Christmas! - A Newsboys Holiday EP, would be released on October 12, 2010. They will be touring on the Very Merry Christmas Tour 2010 promoting the EP with Newsong, their first show being November 28 in Kinston, North Carolina and ending on December 18th in Albany, Georgia. From January to March 2011, they headlined the Winter Jam East Coast. A month later they released the miracles edition of Born Again featuring the new single Save Your Life (song) plus four remixes and headlined the Born Again Experience Tour until May 2011. On November 2011, they released their fifteenth studio album, God's Not Dead and headlined Winter Jam West Coast to promote their new album. On 10 September 2013, they released their sixteenth studio album, Restart, as well as the corresponding tour. A year later they released their seventeenth studio album, Hallelujah for the Cross. On 4 March 2016, they released their eighteenth studio album, Love Riot. In 2018, Peter Furler, and Phil Joel reunited with the current lineup Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Jody Davis, in the history making Newsboys United Tour.

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Members[]

Current[]

Drums: Duncan "Dunny" Phillips
Vocals: Michael Tait
Keyboards: Jeff "Oinch" Frankenstein
Guitar: Jody "Helmet" Davis

Former[]

Singers[]

  • John James  (1986-1997)- left to revive marraige and to quit drug addition.

Drums[]

  • Peter Furler (1985-2009)

Guitars[]

  • Vernon Bishop (1991-1992)

Bass[]

Keyboards[]

Touring Only[]

Discography[]

Studio Albums[]

John James era[]

Peter Furler era[]

Michael Tait era[]

Remix Albums[]

Compilation Albums[]

EPs[]

Live Albums[]

Videos[]

Style of Music[]

See main article: Style of Music


Newsboys is mostly considered a pop/rock band, with some influences of other music. In Love Liberty Disco, they had a 1970s disco style of music. In Adoration: The Worship Album and Devotion, they had a worship style of music.

Timeline[]

1986-George perdikis and Sean Taylor join The News
1987-The News changes name to Newsboys
1987-He's Coming Back demo tape recorded independently
late 1987-Newsboys sign with Refuge Records] and come to America
1987-Phil Yates joins Newsboys
1987-George Perdikis leaves Newsboys after writing most of the songs on their first album
December 1, 1988-First album, Read All About It, released
1988-Corey Pryor joins band as keyboardist, leaves later in the year
1988-I Got Your Number released as a radio single for Read All About It
Sometime between 1988 and 1990-Newsboys sign with Star Song Communications
1989-Phil Yates leaves band
July 31, 1990-Hell Is For Wimps is released

  • 1990-Corey Pryor rejoins band

1990-Jonathan Geange joins band as guitarist
1990-All I Can See, In the End, and Ten Thousand Miles released as radio singles for Hell Is For Wimps
August 9, 1991-Boys Will Be Boyz released
1991-Jonathan Geange leaves band
1991-Vernon Bishop joins band as guitarist
November 26, 1991-Boys Will Be Boyz released to VHS and NTSC
1991-Simple Man released as a radio single for Hell Is For Wimps
1991-One Heart, Kingdom Man, Stay With Me, Israel, and You and Me released as radio singles for Boys Will Be Boyz
1992-Steve Taylor begins partnership with the band
September 29, 1992-Not Ashamed released
1992-Vernon Bishop leaves band
1992-Jonathan Geange briefly returns and leaves the band as a replacement for Bishop
1992-I'm Not Ashamed released as a radio single for Not Ashamed
1993-Not Ashamed Tour
1993-Duncan Phillips joins band
1993-Jody Davis joins band
1993-Corey Pryor leaves band
December 21, 1993-Not Ashamed: The Video released to VHS and NTSC
1993-Kevin Mills joins band
1993-Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Upon This Rock, I Cannot Get You Out of My System, Strong Love, and Dear Shame released as radio singles for Not Ashamed
July 26, 1994-Going Public released
1994-Jeff Frankenstein joins band
1994-Shine and Be Still released as radio singles for Going Public
1995-Going Public Tour
1995-Kevin Mills leaves band to manage White Heart
1995-Phil Joel joins band
1995-Going Public wins a Dove Award for "Rock album of the Year"
1995-Shine wins a Dove Award for "Rock Recorded Song of the Year"
1995-Let It Rain, Spirit Thing, Real Good Thing, Truth and Consequences, and Going Public released as radio singles for Going Public
1995-Reality released as a radio single for Take Me to Your Leader
February 20, 1996-Take Me to Your Leader released
1996-Take Me to Your Leader, Let It Go, and Breakfast released as radio singles for Take Me to Your Leader
September 8, 1996-Down Under the Big Top released to VHS and NTSC
1996-1997-Take Me to Your Leader Tour
1997-Counter the Culture Tour
1997-John James leaves band
1997-Peter Furler switches to lead vocals
1997-Duncan Phillips switches from keyboard to drums
1997-Breathe (Benediction), It's All Who You Know, God Is Not a Secret, and Cup O' Tea released as radio singles for Take Me to Your Leader
April 9, 1998-Entertaining Angels EP released
June 30, 1998-Step Up to the Microphone released
1998-Entertaining Angels, Step Up to the Microphone, Believe, Woohoo, Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot (video only), and Hallelujah released as radio singles for Step Up to the Microphone
1998-Shine 2000 (remix) and I'm Not Ashamed (remix) released as radio singles for Entertaining Angels EP
1999-Love Liberty Disco released
1999-Love Liberty Disco released as a radio single for Love Liberty Disco
May 18, 1999-Live One Night In Pennsylvania released to VHS
1999-Step Up to the Microphone Tour
2000-Kevin Mills dies in motorbike accident
2000-Shine: The Hits released
2000-LoveLibertyDisco AirDome Tour
2000-Beautiful Sound and I Surrender All/Good Stuff released as radio singles for Love Liberty Disco
2000-Joy released as radio single for Shine: The Hits
October 24, 2000-Shine: The Hits Live One Night In Pennsylvania released
2001-Mega-Mix, Who?, God Is Not a Secret (featuring TobyMac), and Praises released as radio singles for Shine: The Hits
March 26, 2002-Thrive released (It Is You Pre-Order EP available to those who pre-ordered the album
June 18, 2002-Thrive: From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum released to DVD
2002-Thrive-It's All In the Word Tour
September 24, 2002-Newsboys Remixed released
2002-It Is You, Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye), John Woo, Lord (I Don't Know), The Fad of the Land, Live In Stereo and Giving It Over released as radio singles for Thrive
2002-In the Belly of the Whale (featuring Steve Taylor) released as radio single for Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
2003-8 Great Hits released
April 8, 2003-Adoration: The Worship Album released
2003-Jody Davis leaves band
2003-Bryan Olesen joins band
2003-He Reigns, You Are My King (Amazing Love), In Christ Alone, Adoration released as radio singles for Adoration: The Worship Album
2004-Adoration Tour
November 4, 2004-Devotion released
2004-Presence (My Heart's Desire), Devotion, Blessed Be Your Name, and Strong Tower released as radio singles for Devotion
October 4, 2005— He Reigns: The Worship Collection released
2006— Bryan Olesen leaves band
2006— Paul Colman joins band
September 12, 2006— GO EP released
October 31, 2006— GO released
2006— I Am Free (live) and Wherever We Go released as radio singles for GO
December 2006— Phil Joel leaves band<bar> 2007— GO Tour Encore
May 8, 2007— GO Remixed released
2007— Something Beautiful and In Wonder released as radio singles for GO
November 20, 2009— The Greatest Hits released
2008— GO Tour Finale 2008— Yo Ho Hero released as a radio single for "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie Soundtrack" 2008— Stay Strong released as a radio single for The Greatest Hits
September 30, 2008— Houston We Are GO Live released
January 5, 2009— Paul Colman leaves band
2009— Jody Davis rejoins band
2009— Join the Tribe Tour
2009— Peter Furler leaves band
March 9, 2009— Michael Tait joins band
May 5, 2009— In the Hands of God released
2009— In the Hands of God and Glorious released as radio singles for In the Hands of God
2009-2010— The Way We Roll Tour
January 5, 2010— Born Again EP released
May 4, 2010— Discover: Newsboys EP released


Poll Archive


Sequels[]

Newsboys 2

External Links[]

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