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

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