(CP) After greater than a decade-and-a-half of fronting the Christian rock band Newsboys, lead singer Michael Tait has announced his decision to step down, citing prayerful reflection and a way of clarity on this recent season of life.
“Fifteen years ago, my life was perpetually modified once I received the invite to step into the role of lead singer for Newsboys,” Tait, 58, wrote in a social media statement Thursday. “The years since have been among the most fulfilling, faith-filled, and rewarding years of my life.”
Tait joined Newsboys in 2009 following the departure of longtime lead vocalist Peter Furler. With Tait on the helm, the band experienced a resurgence, releasing chart-topping albums comparable to Born Again and God’s Not Dead.
Known for his or her high-energy performances and faith-centered music, the band expanded its global reach during Tait’s tenure, ministering to audiences across diverse backgrounds.
“Together we wrote and produced music that I’m deeply happy with — from ‘Born Again’ and ‘We Believe’ to ‘Worldwide Revival’ and, in fact, ‘God’s Not Dead,'” Tait reflected.
The Newsboys, originally formed in Australia in 1985, have long been a staple in Christian contemporary music. Over the years, the group has earned quite a few accolades, including multiple Grammy nominations and Dove Awards.
In his statement, Tait acknowledged that his decision to depart was not a simple one. “While this may occasionally come as a surprise given I’ve been touring ever since college, I’ve made for me what’s a monumental and heartfelt decision that it’s time to step down from Newsboys,” he shared. “This decision doesn’t come calmly and has been a shock to even myself, but amidst prayer and fasting, I actually have clarity that that is the fitting decision.”
Tait also shared a verse from Matthew 6:33 that guided his decision: “‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all this stuff can be given to you as well.'”
“I actually consider these words and, although nervous concerning the future, I’m enthusiastic about what it holds for each myself and for Newsboys, as all of us seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,” he concluded.
A social media statement from Newsboys noted that Tait’s exit won’t impact their upcoming tour, which is slated to run through August.
“We are grateful for the prolonged season Michael has had with Newsboys …. as he said in his announcement, the memories we share are deeply cherished. As he walks into the following season of life, we’re moving into the following season of Newsboys,” the group’s members, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis and Adam Agee, said within the social media post.
“We are kicking off our Worldwide Revival Nights tour as planned this weekend, and we hope to see you at a show soon … as we navigate this season of change, we all know that worshipping together is the best way we wish to maneuver forward. We know there can be questions on what the longer term holds, and in due time, we’ll have answers [to] those questions. For now, we wish you to know that Newsboys is not going anywhere; we’re going in every single place!” the group’s statement continued.
Prior to his stint because the lead singer of Newsboys, Tait was a part of the CCM rap-rock group DC Talk, from 1988-2001, alongside TobyMac and Kevin Smith (Max). Before joining The Newsboys, Tait also led his own band, Tait.
In a 2023 interview with The Christian Post, Newsboys keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein said he believed the Christian music band’s longevity was because of their commitment to biblical truth.
“I believe our longevity is a testament to our hearts and where we’re as people, because it is very unusual in any genre that a band would stay together for over 30 years,” Frankenstein said.
“I believe that certainly one of the cool things about Christian music, versus pop music, is that everyone knows deep down that music affects people and has a purpose and God gave us that gift. In a pop music situation where every thing’s about you and your profession, you may see why those things flame out so quickly, because they’re just based around either people’s egos or simply selfishness. In this case, all of us have a typical purpose where we all know that music can really change people, because we have seen it occur.”
He also credited Tait for the band’s newer successes, adding: “We’re certainly one of those bands that’s in a rare situation where we have now a black lead singer after which we’re white guys, and we have now people from Australia and folks that work in our office from other countries. We’re a really sort of multicultural band. … We’ve at all times just been ourselves. We don’t be concerned about being too Christian or not Christian enough. We just do what comes from the center.”
