MICHAEL TAIT TO JOIN NEWSBOYS

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) March 9, 2009— After 22 years and more than 2000 shows, newsboys frontman Peter Furler will no longer front the band in concert. Michael Tait will be touring with the band as lead singer with Peter making special appearances throughout the year.

Peter will continue with the band and his trademark songwriting and production will remain as he focuses his professional career toward future newsboys recordings.

Michael has been on the road with the band over the past weeks working alongside Peter in what has been a positive and enjoyable experience for both parties. It has been a graceful process that both Peter and Michael have worked through as they prepare to make the change in the coming weeks.

Peter states “newsboys to me has always been a mission, and I entrust Mike, Jeff, Jody and Duncan to continue all that is in store for us as a band. I’m looking forward to focusing on the band’s studio career and spending time in my own bed after many years in a tour bus and hundreds of thousands of miles on the road.”

Wes Campbell, newsboys manager explains, “While the decision to replace Peter on the road was a painstaking one, when the idea of dc Talk vocalist Michael Tait was presented it was a no-brainer to all of us. No one can replace Peter, but we know Michael will bring a new attitude, energy and vocal style that will thrill our audience. To be able to continue a world class show and still have Peter behind the scenes guiding the career and making of newsboys music is a huge opportunity for all of us. It’s amazing that after many years of touring with dc Talk in the 1990s that in 2009 our paths would cross once again. It’s an exciting time for all of us.”

“For years, dc Talk and newsboys have been family and thus shared the same loyal and adoring fans, says Michael Tait. “When I received the initial call from newsboys to consider joining the band as lead singer, I was speechless! I immediately sought wise counsel and flooded the heavens with endless prayers for insight and vision, and I soon received a clear and definite peace. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to perform my first show as newsboys’ frontman to an audience of 12,000 people. I was completely wrapped in love and support by newsboys’ fans, who are clearly the best fans on the planet. Now I know this is exactly where I belong in this new and wonderful moment in my life’s history. This is a definite highlight of my career and for my 20+ years of walking with Jesus, and I am humbled, proud and privileged to call myself a newsboy.”

In the coming days Peter will be releasing a personal statement on the band’s website in more detail.

The band has recently finished recording its new studio album, In The Hands Of God, which features Peter as lead vocalist on the entire album. Street date for this record is May 5th.

With five gold albums, sales exceeding six million units, more than 20 No.1 radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, newsboys has achieved phenomenal success in its two decades together. Known for its amazing live performances and groundbreaking tours, the band continues to sellout festivals and concerts worldwide, satisfying diehard fans and winning new ones in the process.

Christian Music News Source

Newsboys still shine after almost 25 years

It's quite an accomplishment that Christian pop-rock band Newsboys are headed for its 25th anniversary in 2010.

But consider that contemporary Christian music is barely 40 years old, and that gives them Rolling Stones-like status in the genre.

The difference is that Newsboys still are topping the charts and releasing new music -- and people are buying it.

The band's last album, 2006's ''Go,'' was its fastest-selling ever. A new single, ''In The Hands of God,'' the title song from the forthcoming follow-up disc, was among its fastest-rising ever on the charts when released last month.

So how -- after 17 albums (six gold, producing nearly 25 No. 1 Christian radio hits) and four Grammy Award and more than a dozen Dove Award nominations -- does Newsboys do it?

''Smoke and mirrors, mate, smoke and mirrors,'' drummer Duncan Phillips says with a hardy laugh in a recent telephone call from Nashville, where the Australian-native band now calls home, and where the band was putting finishing touches on the album and preparing for a tour that Sunday brings them to Bethlehem's Stabler Arena.

Actually, that's not too far from the truth: The band's concerts often are rock-style shows with stage smoke and confetti cannons. But Phillips follows his chuckle with his true answer.

''You know what? I think ultimately it's about the music and I think what we've always tried to do is try to write the best records we can possibly write,'' he says. ''I think you must be aware of what's happening around you, but you can't get too kind of tied up in the fad of the moment because if you jump on that bandwagon, when that fad dies, so will you.

''I mean I've always been very proud of the Newsboys 'cause they've really had their own sound. They've never been, 'Well, if you like this band, you're gonna like these guys.' Â… I'm really proud of the fact that we do have our own sound; we really don't sound like anybody else.''

That's not to say Newsboys have not had diversions over the years. Like The Rolling Stones, they dabbled in disco on 1999's ''Love, Liberty, Disco,'' and even had a hit, ''Beautiful Sound.'' And the two records before ''Go'' -- 2003's ''Adoration: The Worship Album'' and 2004's ''Devotion'' -- saw them explore worship music, and were among their most successful. ''Adoration'' got a Grammy nomination and produced a single, ''He Reigns,'' that stayed in the Top 20 on Christian adult contemporary radio more than six months.

But through it all, they've retained their distinguishable sound, and returned to rock and pop for ''Go.'' Phillips says that will continue on ''In The Hands of God,'' now due out May 5.

''I think if you liked the 'Go' record, you'll like this one,'' he says. ''The 'Go' record was pretty much a pop record in my mind -- it was pretty poppy. This one definitely has that as well, but it's maybe a little tougher. Â… I think when you've been in the band and you write songs, you've got basically the same group of guys for that amount of time, you really do develop your own flavor, not matter what you do, you develop your own style.''

That's also not to say that in its long history, Newsboys haven't had personnel changes. In fact, the number of switches in the band -- once a quintet, now a quartet -- now number 10, including a change from frontman John James to iconic, bald Peter Furler in 1997. Furler's the band's only original member, though Phillips has been a member since 1993 and keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein since 1994. The latest change saw guitarist Paul Coleman leave to resume his solo career, and be replaced by returning guitarist Jody Davis, a member 1993-2003 before leaving for family concerns.

''Jody coming back, I think, is just a fantastic opportunity -- for him, just to do something that he loves to do, but for us, as well. It's great to have an old friend back. Â… A lot of fans have been with us so many years, I think they'll really appreciate seeing Jody back on stage again.''

When it comes down to it, Phillips says, those fans are the real reason Newsboys have been successful for so long.

''Our fans are the best,'' he says. ''I mean, some fans we met as kids, 20 years ago. And now they've got grown-up families of their own and they're bringing their kids. So we've just got this incredible fans base that have been so loyal.''

And the other reason, Phillips says, is the spiritual connection that Newsboys offers.

''When they come to a Newsboys show, it's more than just music,'' he says. ''Definitely it really touches them deep down inside. It's one of those things -- hopefully it's more of a spiritual experience than just music. I think when we can touch spirits, when you make a real connection, I think people want more of that, and they really kind of believe in the band.''

john.moser@mcall.com

Christian Music News Source

The Festiva Interview: newsboys

In shady bars and smoky nightclubs back in 1985 Australia, a band was attempting to breathe hope into those souls who needed it. They brought their message of peace and love to anyone who would listen. Today, not much has changed for the Christian rock band newsboys - except the venues they play, for much larger audiences and all over the world.

Peter Furler, who began as the band's drummer and is now the lead vocalist, is the only remaining original member of newsboys. The band is notorious for having new members for almost each album release. The current line-up includes Duncan Phillips on drums, Jody Davis playing lead guitar and Jeff Frankenstein, who switches between bass and keyboard.

The band hit its stride in the mid-‘90s with songs like "Let It Rain", "Shine", "Reality", "God Is Not a Secret" and more. The stride continues even with the various member changes in the band. Beyond producing number one hits, best-selling albums and playing packed arenas, the boys have collected a fair number of awards. Nearly two dozen Dove award nominations and four wins, four Grammy nominations and various others from organizations such as Billboard, Nashville Music Awards and International Angel Awards, the band remains humble and still keep spreading the Christian message to people.

Each member has their own story to tell about how he became a member of newsboys. Frankenstein talked to Festiva about his journey, the Global Tribe Project and more.

Christian Music News Source

Welcome back Newsboys – after 10 long years

HARD to believe we haven’t seen the Newsboys in this area for 10 years. Obviously far too long, as tickets for their ‘Join the Tribe’ tour stop in Abbotsford sold out very quickly.

I caught up with drummer Duncan Philips, as the band prepared to embark on this tour with a ‘new’ lead guitar player.

Paul Coleman left, after three years. Philips explained: “Paul was a great new breath of life and a great friend; but he wanted to pursue his [solo] music. Its hard to see him go, but kind of exciting welcoming back Jody – who never really left our hearts.”

Jody Davis had been with the band from 1993 to 2003 before choosing to leave the group to care for his daughter, Bethany, who has cerebral palsy.

The tour name comes from the band’s involvement with Global Tribe, in its quest to fight physical and spiritual poverty. I asked Philips about the ministry.

“I’ve been touring with the band for 16 years now, and you start to think about your legacy. We want to use our platform to do more than just play music. As Christians, we should be reaching out to the poor and sick . . . A lot of Christians in the church have forgotten about that.”



The tour will introduce fans to music from the Newsboys’ forthcoming 15th studio release, In the Hands of God – scheduled in stores May 5. I asked Philips what we could expect from the new album.

“If you like Go, you will definitely like this album . . . although it is a little edgier and rocks a bit more.”

He confirmed that Christian music legend Steve Taylor contributed to the songwriting.

“When we were 90 percent there on a song, Steve would come in and help finish the song with that perfect lyric. His input was great . . . he’s a great friend.”

Asked what we can expect to hear in concert, Philips was a little elusive, as the musicians were still in rehearsals. But he confirmed that the new album’s title song would be on the setlist, along with many of their No. 1 hits.

“We would be hearing from people if we did not play songs like ‘Breakfast,’ ‘Shine’ and ‘He Reigns,” Philips concluded.

This Newsboys concert is more like a mini touring festival, featuring three opening acts: up-and-coming rock/worship band Bread of Stone; pop-rock trio VOTA, formed by one-time Newsboys lead guitarist Bryan Olesen; and Dove-winning, Grammy-nominated rockers Decemberadio.

I spoke with the latter band’s lead guitarist, Brian Bunn, to ask how they prepared for their second album, Satisfied.



“We knew going in that we wanted to record songs that translated well live . . . We learned a lot touring over the past five years, and what fans were into at our shows.”

Christianity Today placed Satisfied at #10 on their Best Christian Albums of 2008 list, writing: “This is a rock lover’s album, clearly descended from southern-flavored bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Black Crowes, as well as the classic pop-metal of Petra.”

Asked how it felt to be compared to these respected bands, Bunn said: “It’s pretty cool . . . to get this kind of comparison, and to know that people like the album . . . But really, when we were in the studio, we knew that we were doing it for God – and that was enough.”

Bunn confirmed the band will play both hard rock radio hits like ‘Believer,’ and ballads such as ‘For Your Glory.’

Christian Music News Source

Newsboys to perform in Longview Friday

LONGVIEW — Newsboys will bring its "Join the Tribe" 35-city tour concert to Longview Friday as they perform in the S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel of LeTourneau University, 2100 S. Mobberly Ave., at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $28, $23, $18, and $13.

Joining them on the tour are DecembeRadio, VOTA and Bread of Stone.

The tour will support Global Tribe in its quest to fight physical and spiritual poverty. The tour will also introduce fans to new music from Newsboys forthcoming 15th studio release, which will be in stores May 5. Their debut single is, "In the Hands of God.

The tour also marks the return of long-time guitarist Jody Davis, who has rejoined the band after a five-year hiatus.

Davis will replace Paul Colman who has retired from the band to pursue his solo career. "I am thrilled to be returning to the band and back with my bandmates, who are some of my best friends," Davis was quoted in a press release as saying. "This is a big change in my life, and I'm looking forward to the tour and new record with excitement."

With five gold albums, sales exceeding 6 million units, more than 20 No. 1 radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, Newsboys has achieved phenomenal success in its two decades together. Known for its amazing live performances and groundbreaking tours, the band continues to sellout festivals and concerts worldwide, satisfying diehard fans and winning new ones in the process. Visit the Web site, www.newsboys.com.

Christian Music News Source

Newsboys Readies Fourteenth Studio Album, In The Hands Of God

May 5 Project Makes Debut on Sold-Out Spring Tour

Legendary, best-selling pop-rock band newsboys prepares for the release of its fourteenth studio project, In The Hands of God, releasing May 5, 2009. The group is currently debuting music from its forthcoming record on the sell-out "Join The Tribe" spring tour.

Produced by Max Hsu (Superchick, tobyMac) along with newsboys' Peter Furler and Jeff Frankenstein, In The Hands of God boasts the classic rock sound that has made newsboys' music legendary among Christian music fans for more than two decades. Featuring 10 hit songs, including "No Grave," "My Friend Jesus" and "Glorious," the album additionally includes background vocals by Michael Tait of dc Talk and Jamie Rowe of Guardian. In The Hands of God, as Furler explains, is an autobiographical record and a tribute to God's divine providence over newsboys' long-running career.

In The Hands of God is already being embraced by radio with the debut single and title track, currently at No.10 on Radio & Records' Adult Contemporary Indicator chart, No. 16 at AC Monitored, and No. 15 at CHR in only one month's time. The single was released to iTunes on February 24 and rose to No. 4 on iTunes' Top Christian Songs chart in less than 24 hours.

"'In The Hands Of God' is a song that needs to be heard in times like these, and the success the song is seeing at radio and digitally sets a great precedent for the record," says Shara Katerberg, director of marketing for Inpop Records. "Given the current state of our economy, everyone is dealing with hardship, and In The Hands Of God is an album that reminds us that God was, is, and will always be in control."

Fans attending newsboys' spring "Join The Tribe" tour have responded enthusiastically as well; the 35-city tour, which kicked off Feb. 19, has already sold out six dates, including upcoming shows in Manheim, Pa., Scranton, Pa., and Longview, Texas. The tour marks the return of longtime guitarist Jody Davis and will hit cities across North America through the end of April, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto and Vancouver.

Fans will also have the unique opportunity to take the tour home with them. High quality live recordings and original photos from each show will be available to download for $9.99. To learn more about the official bootlegs, visit live.newsboys.com For the most up-to-date tour itinerary, visit www.myspace.com/newsboys.

With five gold albums, sales exceeding six million units, more than 20 No.1 radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, newsboys has achieved phenomenal success in its two decades together. Known for its amazing live performances and groundbreaking tours, the band continues to sellout festivals and concerts worldwide, satisfying diehard fans and winning new ones in the process. For more information, visit http://www.newsboys.com/.

Christian Music News Source

newsboys' Christian songs rock

REVIEW: Concert

This time, they didn't come onto the stage on motorcycles.

Nor did they arrive via friendly Martian spacecraft, as they did on one tour, and they left the spacesuits from that tour at home.

But what newsboys (they officially lower-case the band name now) did bring with them to Lancaster County on Friday night was an energy-filled, powerful and wide-ranging show.

The band has always been fun-loving and stunt-loving, even as it has turned out some of the best contemporary Christian music of the past 20 years. Playing before 2,350 at a sold-out LCBC (known until recently as Lancaster County Bible Church, now Lives Changed By Christ), the four-man outfit offered a catchy, traditional rock sound you'd expect at the most popular summer stadium show, along with moving, powerful testimonies that reminded you this is a Christian rock group you're hearing.

Clad all in black, singer Peter Furler, drummer Duncan Phillips, guitarist Jody Davis and drummer Jeff Frankenstein hit the crowd with their best shots right away … the catchy, funk-filled "Wherever We Go," the lesser-known but still excellent and driving "The Mission," the well-known hit "Something Beautiful."

But they were just warming up. After the somber-then-powerful worship-music staple "Blessed Be Your Name," they did their huge hit "He Reigns" with a harder-edged guitar sound than on the studio version, and offered a moving version of the uplifting and encouraging "Stay Strong."

When it came time to do their megahits "Shine" and "Breakfast," two of the best-known Christian contemporary songs ever, Furler could have stepped away from the microphone if he'd wanted to, because the whole crowd, on both the lower level and upper deck of the sprawling church, knew all the words.

For a band that started more than 20 years ago, newsboys still pack an amazing level of energy into a show.

Kristen Greenwood of Lancaster and her 11-year-old son, David, had seen the band before, in Hershey during the "Go!" tour. As impressed as they were by the concert, Greenwood said, "It was even cooler to watch my son completely captivated" by the band's message to go reach the hurting around the world.

Also performing during Friday's three-hour show were two openings acts, hard-rock band Bread of Stone and VOTA, once known as Casting Pearls.

Both were good in the short time they had, but of the two, VOTA played a longer set and was perhaps more polished. The band changed its name to avoid confusion with the well-known Christian band Casting Crowns.

E-mail: doconnor@lnpnews.com

Christian Music News Source

Newsboys set to release 'In The Hands Of God' CD

BEST SELLING pop rock band Newsboys will release their 14th studio album 'In The Hands Of God' in May. Produced by Max Hsu (Superchick, Toby Mac) along with Newsboys' Peter Furler and Jeff Frankenstein, 'In The Hands Of God' features 10 songs including "No Grave", "My Friend Jesus" and "Glorious". Providing background vocals on the project are Michael Tait of dc Talk and Jamie Rowe of Guardian. The title track from the album is already gaining major US radio play. Said Shara Katerberg, director of marketing for Inpop Records, "'In The Hands Of God' is a song that needs to be heard in times like these, and the success the song is seeing at radio and digitally sets a great precedent for the record. Given the current state of our economy, everyone is dealing with hardship and 'In The Hands Of God' is an album that reminds us that God was, is, and will always be in control."

Christian Music News Source

Newsboys: Take Me to Your Leader

Oldschool Newsboys music videos #2

Christian Music News Source