Newsboys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newsboys
Newsboys in 2011 (Left to right) Phillips, Davis, Tait, Frankenstein
Background information
Origin	Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Christian pop pop rock CCM Christian rock
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Refuge Star Song Virgin Sparrow Inpop Fair Trade
Members	Jody Davis Duncan Phillips Jeff Frankenstein Adam Agee
Past members	Peter Furler George Perdikis Sean Taylor Phil Yates John James Corey Pryor Jonathan Geange Vernon Bishop Kevin Mills Phil Joel Bryan Olesen Paul Colman Michael Tait

The Newsboys are a Christian rock band that started in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia. It was founded by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. The band is now based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. They have released 17 studio albums, and 6 of these have sold enough copies to be certified gold.

As of 2025, the band members are Jody Davis (lead guitar), Jeff Frankenstein (keyboards), Duncan Phillips (drums), and Adam Agee (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass). Adam Agee was previously in the bands Stellar Kart and Audio Adrenaline. None of the original founding members are still in the band. Besides making music, the Newsboys have also appeared in the movies God's Not Dead, God's Not Dead 2, and God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness.

Band History

The Early Years (1980s)

The band began in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Australia. Peter Furler and his school friend George Perdikis started practicing music in a garage. Soon after, two more teenagers joined: John James (vocals) and Sean Taylor (bass). The Newsboys moved to the United States in late 1987. They signed with Refuge Communications and released their first album, Read All About It, in 1988.

Rising Popularity (1990s)

After signing with Star Song Communications, the band released Hell Is for Wimps (1990) and Boys Will Be Boyz (1991). Their first few albums did not get much attention, and the band's members changed often.

In 1992, their album Not Ashamed helped them gain notice in the Christian music world. Steve Taylor, a singer-songwriter and producer, started working with the band. He produced their music and wrote many of their song lyrics. Peter Furler was the main songwriter and shared lead singing duties with John James until James left the band.

In 1994, with new members Jody Davis and Duncan Phillips, the band released Going Public. This album was their first big success. It won a 1995 Dove Award for "Rock Album of the Year." It also had four No. 1 hit songs: "Spirit Thing," "Real Good Thing," "Truth and Consequences," and especially "Shine." "Shine" won a Dove Award for "Rock Recorded Song of the Year" and is considered one of the greatest songs in Christian music. Many fans see "Shine" as the band's most famous song.

Their 1996 album, Take Me to Your Leader, added new members Phil Joel (bass) and Jeff Frankenstein (keyboards). This album had three more No. 1 pop hits: "Reality," "Let It Go," and the title track. It also had popular rock songs like "Cup O' Tea" and "Breathe," plus the fan favorite "Breakfast." This album won a Dove Award for its "Recorded Music Packaging." The song "Reality" inspired the band's first movie, Down Under the Big Top (1996).

In late 1997, lead singer John James left the band to start a preaching ministry. Peter Furler then became the main lead singer, moving from drums. Duncan Phillips, who had played keyboards, became the new drummer. From 1998 to 2003, the band's lineup stayed the same with Furler, Phil Joel, Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein, and Duncan Phillips.

In 1997, the Newsboys recorded Step Up to the Microphone. This album sold well and had four No. 1 hits: "Entertaining Angels," "WooHoo," "Believe," and the title track. "Entertaining Angels" won a Dove Award for "Short Form Music Video of the Year" in 1999.

The band released Love Liberty Disco in 1999. This album had a different, more disco-like sound. It still produced several hits, including the No. 1 songs "Beautiful Sound" and "Good Stuff." The tour for this album was very popular and featured a large inflatable arena called the Air Dome.

In 1999, Peter Furler also helped start Inpop Records, an independent Christian music record label.

New Sounds and Changes (2000s)

Newsboys performing in 2001, with Phil Joel in front

In 2000, the Newsboys were a main act at the Festival Con Dios concert tour. That same year, they released a collection of their greatest hits called Shine: The Hits. This album included four new songs, two of which ("Joy" and "Who?") became No. 1 hits.

Their next new album was Thrive in 2002. It had two No. 1 singles: "Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)" and "It Is You." "It Is You" became one of their biggest hits. In 2002, the Newsboys also recorded "In the Belly of the Whale" for the movie Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.

After the success of "It Is You," the Newsboys released two worship albums: Adoration: The Worship Album (2003) and Devotion (2004). In late 2003, Jody Davis left the band and was replaced by Bryan Olesen on guitar.

In 2006, Bryan Olesen left, and Paul Colman joined as the new guitarist. More hit songs came in 2006 with "I Am Free" and "Wherever We Go." On October 31, 2006, the Newsboys released a pop/rock album called GO. Songs like "Something Beautiful" and "In Wonder" were very popular on Christian radio. In December, Phil Joel announced he would leave the band to work on his own music.

On November 20, 2007, the Newsboys released their second greatest hits album, The Greatest Hits. It had eighteen songs and two new ones: "I Fought the La..." and "Stay Strong." This was followed by Newsboys Live: Houston We Are GO, a CD/DVD from their GO Tour, released in 2008. Also in 2008, the band recorded "Yo Ho Hero" for The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie.

Newsboys in concert in 2009, with Jody Davis and Peter Furler

On January 5, 2009, Paul Colman left the band. At the same time, it was announced that Jody Davis would return after five years away. Jody said he was "thrilled to be returning to the band."

Newsboys with Michael Tait in 2009

In 2009, Peter Furler decided to step back from touring as the lead singer. He continued to write and produce songs for the band. Michael Tait, formerly of dc Talk, became the new lead singer on March 9, 2009. Michael Tait performed his first full concert as lead singer on March 17.

The Newsboys released the album In the Hands of God on May 5, 2009. Steve Taylor helped write all the songs. During a concert on September 11, Peter Furler announced that it would be his last guest appearance with the band. After his departure, no original members remained in the band.

New Era and Movies (2010s)

The Newsboys' first album with Michael Tait as lead singer, Born Again, was released on July 13, 2010. It was their highest-charting album, selling over 45,000 copies in its first week. On October 12, 2010, they released a Christmas album, Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday. In 2011, their song "City to City" was used in the trailer for the Disney Pixar movie, Cars 2.

The album God's Not Dead was released on November 15, 2011. Their live album, Live in Concert: God's Not Dead, came out on October 22, 2012. That same year, they released the song "The League of Incredible Vegetables" for the VeggieTales video of the same name. The band released their 16th studio album, Restart, on September 10, 2013.

The band appeared in the film God's Not Dead, released in 2014. Michael Tait shared his excitement about the movie, saying it was powerful because it tried to show God's existence. Duncan Phillips added that the movie raises many questions for people who wonder if God exists.

The band went on the "We Believe Tour." They also performed at the BigChurchDayOut festival in 2014 and 2017. In 2015, the Newsboys started the "We Believe God's Not Dead Tour." Their album Love Riot was released in 2016, followed by a tour. The band also appeared in the 2016 film God's Not Dead 2.

In late 2017, it was announced that Peter Furler and Phil Joel would join the Newsboys for the Newsboys United Tour in 2018. They also worked on an album called United, which was released on May 10, 2019. The last tour date with Furler and Joel was in August 2021.

Recent Years (2020s)

The band released their twentieth album, Stand, on October 1, 2021. On March 29, 2023, it was announced that Adam Agee would be joining the band as the fifth member. The band also released "He Lives" as a digital song on March 31, 2023, which was the first song with Agee.

In 2024, Newsboys announced a two-part album called World Wide Revival. World Wide Revival Part 1 was released on July 19, 2024. Its first song, "How Many Times," and its music video were released on the same day. On January 16, 2025, Michael Tait announced he was leaving the band as lead singer. Adam Agee then became the new lead vocalist. On March 14, 2025, the band released their first song with Agee as the vocalist, "How Many Times (Oh How You Love Me)."

"Worldwide Revival (Deluxe)" was released on May 30, 2025. This version includes four more songs than "Worldwide Revival Part 1," and some songs were re-recorded with Adam Agee's vocals.

Band Members

Current Members

• Jody Davis – guitar, backing vocals (1992–2003, 2009–present), occasional lead vocals (2025–present)
• Duncan Phillips – drums (1997–present), percussion (1993–present), keyboards (1993–1997)
• Jeff Frankenstein – keyboards, backing vocals (1994–present), synth bass (2007–present)
• Adam Agee – lead vocals (2025–present), bass, guitar (2023–present), backing vocals (2023–2025)

Former Members

• Peter Furler – lead vocals (1985–2009, 2018–2021), guitar (1997–2009, 2018–2021), drums (1985–2007)
• George Perdikis – guitar (1985–1987)
• Sean Taylor – bass guitar (1986–1992)
• John James – lead vocals (1986–1997)
• Phil Yates – guitar (1987–1990)
• Corey Pryor – keyboards (1989–1990, 1991–1993)
• Jonathan Geange – guitar (1990–1991, 1992)
• Vernon Bishop – guitar (1991–1992)
• Kevin Mills – bass guitar (1992–1994, died 2000)
• Phil Joel – bass guitar, backing and lead vocals (1994–2006, 2018–2021)
• Bryan Olesen – guitar (2004–2006)
• Paul Colman – guitar (2006–2009)
• Michael Tait – lead vocals (2009–2025)

Member Timeline

Major Tours

The Newsboys have been on many tours throughout their career:

• Boyz Will Be Boyz Tour (1991)
• Nu Skool Jam Tour (1991)
• Going Public Tour (1994-1995) with Steve Taylor and Ian Eskelin
• Take Me To Your Leader Tour (1997)
• Step Up to the Microphone Tour (1999)
• Love Liberty Disco Tour (1999-2000) with Sonicflood and Beanbag
• Festival Con Dios (2001)
• Winter Jam (2002) with Michelle Tumes, Paige, Brother's Keeper, Phat Chance, Freddie Colloca, NewSong
• Thrive It's All In World Tour (2002)
• The Adoration Tour (2002-2005)
• Winter Jam (2006) with ZOEgirl, TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Krystal Meyers, NewSong
• The GO Tour (2007-2008) with Kutless and Stellar Kart
• The Way We Roll Tour (2009)
• Join the Tribe Tour (2009)
• Winter Jam (2010) with Third Day, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight, NewSong
• A Very Merry Christmas Tour (2010)
• Winter Jam (2011) with David Crowder Band, Kutless, Red, Francesca Battistelli, KJ-52, NewSong
• Born Again VIP Experience Tour (2011)
• The Story Music Tour (2011) with Francesca Battistelli, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Anthem Lights and Selah
• God's Not Dead Tour (2012-2013) with Building 429 (first part), Britt Nicole (second part), All Things New and CAMPBELL
• Restart Tour (2013) with For King & Country, Moriah Peters and Rapture Ruckus
• Winter Jam (2014) with Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Plumb, Colton Dixon, NewSong
• The Reason Tour (2014)
• We Believe God's Not Dead Tour (2015) with Audio Adrenaline, Ryan Stevenson, OBB
• The Rock & Worship Roadshow (2016) with Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, Phil Wickham, Family Force 5, Audio Adrenaline, Danny Gokey, Citizen Way
• Love Riot Tour (2016-2017)
• Jesus Freak Cruise (2017) with TobyMac, DC talk, Kevin Max, Finding Favour, Capital King, Ryan Stevenson, Hollyn
• Big Church Night Out (2017) with Sidewalk Prophets, 7eventh Time Down, Blanca, Derek Minor, Adam Agee
• Newsboys United (2018)
• Winter Jam (2019) with Danny Gokey, Mandisa, NewSong, Rend Collective, Ledger, Hollyn
• United and Surrounded Tour (2019) with Michael W. Smith
• Jesus Freak Cruise (2019) with DC talk,TobyMac, Kevin Max, John Crist, Mandisa, Aaron Cole and Ryan Stevenson
• Greatness of Our God Tour (2019) with Ryan Stevenson, Adam Agee and Kevin Max
• Greatness of Our God Tour (2020) with Mandisa and Adam Agee
• Step Into the Light Tour (2021) with Mandisa, Cade Thompson, We Are Messengers, and Adam Agee
• Stand Together Tour (2022) with Danny Gokey, Mac Powell and Adam Agee
• Stand Together Tour (2022) with Jeremy Rosado, Cochren & Co, and Adam Agee
• Let the Music Speak Tour (2023) with Adam Agee
• Always Only Jesus Tour (2024) with MercyMe and David Leonard
• Worldwide Revival Nights (2024)

Discography

Albums with John James as Lead Singer

• Read All About It (1988)
• Hell Is for Wimps (1990)
• Boys Will Be Boyz (1991)
• Not Ashamed (1992)
• Going Public (1994)
• Take Me to Your Leader (1996)

Albums with Peter Furler as Lead Singer

• Step Up to the Microphone (1998)
• Love Liberty Disco (1999)
• Thrive (2002)
• Adoration: The Worship Album (2003)
• Devotion (2004)
• Go (2006)
• In the Hands of God (2009)

Albums with Michael Tait as Lead Singer

• Born Again (2010)
• God's Not Dead (2011)
• Restart (2013)
• Hallelujah for the Cross (2014)
• Love Riot (2016)
• United (2019)
• Stand (2021)
• Worldwide Revival Pt.1 (2024)

Albums with Adam Agee as Lead Singer

• Worldwide Revival (Deluxe) (2025)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Dove Awards

Billboard Music Video Awards

• 1999 Award for Best CCM Video
  • "Entertaining Angels"

Intl. Angel Awards

• 1995 Award for Video
  • "Shine"
• 1999 Award for Video
  • "Entertaining Angels"

Nashville Music Awards

• 1999 Award for Favorite CCM Album
  • Step Up to the Microphone
• 2000 Nomination for Contemporary Christian Album of the Year
  • Love Liberty Disco

SESAC Awards

• 2000 Award for Christian Songwriter of the Year
  • Peter Furler

See also

In Spanish: Newsboys para niños