From the time of the band’s founding in Australia in 1985, Newsboys have released fourteen studio albums and have been one of the most prevalent Christian music artists of the preceding two decades.
Newsboys’ earliest members, bassist Sean Taylor, lead singer John James, and drummer Peter Furler, created the group in Mooloolaba, Queensland in 1985 along with Furler’s guitarist school mate, George Perdikis. The band came to the United States in late 1987 after getting a record contract with Refuge Communications, and released the album Read All About It in 1988 in the United States. After signing with Star Song Communications, they released two additional albums from 1990 to 1991: Hell Is For Wimps and Boys Will Be Boyz. Not one of the three albums garnered much interest, and the band’s lineup altered with each release.
It wasn’t until their 1992 album, Not Ashamed, that the band gained notice in the Christian music scene. Steve Taylor, a singer-songwriter and producer, began a alliance with the group, producing the band’s record and writing the majority of the lyrics for their songs; Furler remained the band’s central songwriter and beginning with this album began sharing lead vocal duties with James, which he would continue to do until James’ departure.
In 1994, amidst repeated lineup changes (which included mainstays Jody Davis and Duncan Phillips), the crew released Going Public, their fifth record and first success.The 1996 follow-up album Take Me To Your Leader was recorded amid the band expanding to six members, including new additions Phil Joel and Jeff Frankenstein.
In late 1997, John James announced he would be parting ways with the band to become a pastor and author. Furler moved from drums to vocals. Duncan Phillips, who had previously played keyboards and percussion for the band.Beginning in 1998 to 2003, the band’s lineup of Furler, bassist Phil Joel, guitarist Jody Davis, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein, and Phillips stayed constant.
The first post-James record, Step Up to the Microphone, sold well. The song “Entertaining Angels” was awarded the 1999 Dove for “Short Form Music Video of the Year”. The band returned in 1999 with the oddly-titled Love Liberty Disco, the band’s only album to considerably deviate from their pop rock sound.
In 2000, Newsboys released a greatest hits compilation, Shine: The Hits.The band did not release any all new material until the spring of 2002 at which time they released Thrive.The Newsboys followed with two praise and worship albums: Adoration: The Worship Album in 2003 and Devotion in 2004. Late in 2003, guitarist Jody Davis left the band and was replaced by Bryan Oleson; in 2006, Oleson left to focus on his own band, Casting Pearls(later, Vota) and was replaced by Paul Colman.
On 31 October 2006, Newsboys released a pop/rock record named GO. GO featured David Eri as a co-writer. That December, Phil Joel would depart from the band to pursue his own endeavors. On 5 January 2009, Paul Colman announced he would be parting with the Newsboys to work on his own solo projects. At the same time it was announced that Jody Davis would come back to the band, after a 5 year hiatus.
Peter Furler, having toured together with the Newsboys ever since the band started in 1985, chose to step back into a support role continuing as the band’s primary songwriter and producer. A replacement lead vocalist was necessary so the band might go on touring. On 9 March 2009, it was announced on the band’s web site that Michael Tait, formerly of dc Talk, would be the new lead vocalist. “Michael Tait will be touring with the band as lead singer with Peter making special appearances all through 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.”
Newsboys released the studio album In the Hands of God on 5 May 2009 on Inpop Records. Max Hsu (Superchick and tobyMac) produced the album. Steve Taylor co-wrote all the songs for the album, and sang on one song. The Newsboys announced that their latest studio album, appropriately titled Born Again will be released on July 13, 2010.
Primary source: Wikipedia.org
