Australia’s Newsboys is one of the longest-lasting Christian rock bands. They first became popular in the 1990s and have been at the top of the charts ever since.
They have fans all over the world who have stuck with them through three different eras, each led by a different frontman.
The band has put out 17 studio albums, and six of them have been given a gold rating.
In 2012, they had some real troubles with another band and some accusations against the band by some members. Let’s take a look at what really happened.
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Early life & Achievements
In Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, in 1985, two young men, Peter Furler and his school friend George Perdikis, started the band. On the Sunshine Coast, which is known as a “surfer’s paradise,” Furler and Perdikis practiced in a garage.
The drummer, Peter Furler, and Natalie Bryant’s Newsboys United twin, George Perdikis, made a group called “The News.”
A year later, singer John James joined because they required a lead singer. Bassist Sean Taylor also joined at that time. They made the promo tape He’s Coming Back in 1987.
The band we now call The News played a concert in church basements as well as pubs in their home country of Australia for the first 2 years after they got together.
They only put out one independent album, but that was enough for Refuge Communications to notice them.
When they moved to the U.S. in 1987 after signing with Refuge, they changed their title to The Newsboys to avoid any confusion to Huey Lewis and the News.
In the band’s early days, there were a lot of rough and critical jabs.
Some critics thought the group used too many religious cliches in their lyrics. Even though they were attacked, they kept going on what they thought was a mission.
Each musician had a lot of experience and could have worked inside the enlightenment rock market if they had chosen to. But they all wanted to use their professional skills and spiritual beliefs together, so they decided to create a Christian rock band.
The Newsboys are an exemplary unique music phenomenon. They are recognized for their wild, high-energy live shows and high-tech production numbers.
They are a Christian rock band that has made it into the mainstream pop music market, following in the footsteps of artists like Audio Adrenaline, Amy Grant, Matthew Sweet, and others.
In the late 1980s, the band got together with John James on lead vocals, Phillip Urry and Roscoe Meeks on guitars, and Peter Furler on drums. People think of them as one of the best-known Christian rock groups of the 1990s.
The 1990s
After signing with Star Song Communications, they put out two further albums from 1990 to 1991: Boys Will Be Boyz and Hell Are for Wimps, which also had its first self-titled video.
The band’s 1st three albums didn’t get much attention, and each one had a different lineup.
The band didn’t become well-known in the Christian music scene until their 1992 album, Not Ashamed, which included a cover of the DeGarmo & Key song “Boycott Hell.”
The band’s second self-titled video came out the next year. Steve Taylor, a singer, songwriter, and producer, started working with the band.
He made their album and wrote most of their song lyrics. Furler stayed the band’s main songwriter, and he and James took turns singing lead vocals starting with this album and continuing until James left.
The band’s lineup kept changing, but Jody Davis and Duncan Phillips stayed with them, and in 1994, they put out their fifth album, Going Public, which was their first big hit.
The album was a turning point for the band. It won the Dove Award in 1995 for “Rock Album of the Year.”
This also led to four No. 1 hits: “Spirit Thing,” “Real Good Thing,” “Truth and Consequences,” and, most notably, “Shine.” The 1995 Dove for “Rock Recorded Song of the Year” went to “Shine.”
In 2006, “Shine” was one of the top 10 songs on CCM Magazine’s list of the 100 best Christian songs.
See also: What Really Happened to Natalie Grant
James said he was leaving the band at the end of 1997 to begin a preaching ministry. In 2007, he said the real reason was that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol.
When he left, Furler switched from playing drums to singing, and auditions were managed to hold for the drum position that was now open.
Duncan Phillips, who used to play keyboards as well as percussion for the band, eventually switched to playing the drums. From 1998 to 2003, the band always had Furler, Phil Joel on bass, Jody Davis on guitar, Jeff Frankenstein on the keyboard, and Phillips.
The 2000s
After “It Is You” did well, the Newsboys released two albums of praise and worship: Adoration: The Worship Album in 2003 and Devotion in 2004. Davis left the band at the end of 2003, and Bryan Olesen took over on guitar.
In 2005, The Newsboys and Jim Laffoon wrote a devotional book together called Our Daily Blog. It was released by Inspiron on November 1, 2005.
Oleson left the band in 2006 to concentrate on his band, Casting Pearls. Paul Colman, who used to be in Paul Colman Trio, took his place.
The Greatest Hits was the second greatest hits album by the band Newsboys. It came out on November 20, 2007.
The CD has 18 songs, and two of them are new: “I Fought the Law” and “Stay Strong.” Newsboys Live Houston We Are GO, a CD/DVD recording package of such a show from the GO Tour, came out on September 30, 2008, right after this album.
Also in 2008, the band created the song “Yo Ho Hero” again For Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie. Steve Taylor did the vocals.
George Perdikis, who helped start the band, stopped being a Christian and said he was an atheist in 2007.
He had nothing to do with a band for the past seventeen years, and he had nothing to do with any of their popular singles or albums.
In 2009, it was said that Furler, who had been touring with The Newsboys ever since the beginning, had decided to move back into a supporting role and therefore would continue to be the band’s main songwriter and producer. Because of this, the band needed a new lead singer so that they could keep touring.
On March 9, 2009, it was said that Michael Tait, who used to be in the band dc Talk, would become the new lead vocalist. “Michael Tait will serve as the lead singer on tour with the band, and Furler will make special appearances all through the year.
On May 5, In pop Records put out the studio album In the Hands of God by the band Newsboys.
Max Hsu produced the album. Steve Taylor, who has worked with the band for a long time, wrote all of the songs and also sang on one of them. During their show in Orlando on September 11, Furler stated that it would be his last time as a guest with the band.
More than 25 years ago, lead singer Peter Furler helped start the Christian pop-rock band Newsboys. About two years ago, he decided to leave the band, which worried his friends in the band.
Drummer Duncan Phillips stated,
“Furler’s decision made everyone wonder if the Newsboys’ time together was coming to an end”
Phillips said,
“Most fans pay attention to the lead singer.” “Losing a lead singer is significantly worse than having lost a drummer. Were we worried? Yes, we were very worried.”
The Australian musician said in a serious tone,
“You get to a point where, you know, you’ve worked so hard for so long, and then all of a sudden it looks like success is going to be taken away from you. It reaches the core of a man.”
Controversy & Allegations
In 2012, A federal lawsuit was filed by The NewsBoys in the District Court of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Division, against New Boyz. It expressly accuses the group on July 6 of 2012.
The lawsuit, which was filed by The News Boys and Wesley Campbell, states that there is confusion between the gospel group and the Hip-Hop group.
Wesley Campbell, who owns and manages The News Boys, has invested millions of dollars & years of hard work in promoting The News Boys – they have more than 28 number 1 singles.
For nearly 26 years, this gospel group has won numerous awards and has been recognized as the best Christian rock band by millions of people.
The complaint alleges that several instances have occurred so far where the Hip-Hop group was confused with the Gospel group.
“Plaintiff has already documented how some customers and other onlookers mixed up with other companies because of similar sounding names.”
And in 2015, one of the co-founders of Newsboys, George Perdikis, said he’s lost his faith in God. And he’s now an atheist. Further, he asserts that the band’s current members don’t appear to be as squeaky clean as they appear.
“I always felt uncomfortable with the strict rules imposed by Christianity. All I wanted to do was create and play rock and roll… and yet most of the attention I received was focused on how well I maintained the impossible standards of religion. I wanted my life to be measured by my music, not by my ability to resist temptation. ” He said.
Marc Perdikis has his own thoughts about his band members: “Truthfully- from someone who knew what went on then – the Newsboys aren’t as holy as they say.”
They should take a look at themselves and see that they’re struggling as much as the rest of us.” George Perdikis, the co-founder of Christian pop/rock group Newsboys, says he’s lost his faith in God.
“I always felt uncomfortable with the strict rules imposed by Christianity. All I wanted to do was create and play rock and roll… and yet most of the attention I received was focused on how well I maintained the impossible standards of religion. I wanted my life to be measured by my music, not by my ability to resist temptation. ” He continued.
Conclusion
One of the most well-known Christian rock bands, Newsboy, which was founded in 1988, worked hard to prove its talent and won the hearts of its fans. The band started with two friends, Peter Furler and George Perdikis, and progressed by hiring other members.
Newsboys released many albums and won many awards throughout the journey. Although many members left and many joined but when the lead vocalist, Peter Furler, decided to leave it was shocking news for his fellow friends. But they didn’t stop progress and carried on with the same passion. Now Peter Furler is a very successful solo singer.
Newsboys still working. They are currently touring across the country.