At Newsboys’ first live performance since lead singer Michael Tait introduced he was leaving the group, guitarist Adam Agee stepped as much as the microphone and revealed the band had solely heard of Tait’s departure every week earlier.
On Jan. 18, Newsboys performed their first present with out Tait, who had been the band’s lead singer for 15 years. Throughout Saturday evening’s present, Agee, who joined the band in 2023, informed the gang, “We’ve been by means of rather a lot this week.”
“When the information hit us every week in the past,” he mentioned, “it brings up a whole lot of questions like: What will we do? Can we transfer ahead?’ These ideas come into your head, man. Ought to we hold it up? Or will we hold going?”
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“I wish to inform you guys one thing that with this band, with Newsboys, typically the messenger may change, however the message stays the identical,” he added.
On Sunday, Agee shared pictures from their efficiency on Fb, which confirmed him main the group.
“Needed to step as much as the microphone final evening. Once we discovered every week in the past that our lead singer Michael Tait was leaving the band, we requested ourselves a whole lot of questions concerning the future.”
Agee, beforehand of the CCM teams Stellar Kart and Audio Adrenaline, shared that the Newsboys had labored “exhausting” to placed on a great present for the gang.
“To the two,000 unbelievable individuals who confirmed as much as the sector in Poplar Bluff, Missouri … The best way you rallied round us was some of the unbelievable emotions I’ve ever had on stage.”
“It was an evening we are going to always remember. Thanks. I’m excited concerning the future and the whole lot God has in retailer for Newsboys. Love you all!”
Tait, who was a part of the rap-rock group DC Speak previous to his time with Newsboys, introduced his departure from the group in a social media assertion final week: “Whereas this will likely come as a shock given I’ve been touring ever since faculty, I’ve made for me what’s a monumental and heartfelt choice that it’s time to step down from Newsboys,” he shared.
“This choice doesn’t come frivolously and has been a shock to even myself, however amidst prayer and fasting, I’ve readability that that is the precise choice,” he added.
Tait, 58, joined Newsboys in 2009 following the departure of longtime lead vocalist Peter Furler. With Tait on the helm, the band skilled a resurgence, releasing chart-topping albums resembling Born Once more and God’s Not Useless.
A social media assertion from Newsboys famous that Tait’s exit is not going to affect their upcoming tour, which is slated to run by means of August.
“We’re grateful for the prolonged season Michael has had with Newsboys … as he mentioned in his announcement, the reminiscences 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, Agee, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis, mentioned within the social media publish.
“We’re kicking off our Worldwide Revival Nights tour as deliberate this weekend, and we hope to see you at a present quickly … as we navigate this season of change, we all know that worshipping collectively is the best way we wish to transfer ahead. We all know there will likely be questions on what the longer term holds, and in due time, we’ll have solutions [to] these questions. For now, we wish you to know that Newsboys isn’t going anyplace; we’re going all over the place!” the group’s assertion continued.
In a 2023 interview with The Christian Put up, Frankenstein mentioned he believed Newsboys’ longevity was on account of their dedication to biblical reality in an ever-changing tradition.
“I feel our longevity is a testomony to our hearts and the place we’re as individuals, as a result of it’s extremely unusual in any style {that a} band would keep collectively for over 30 years,” Frankenstein mentioned.
“I feel that one of many cool issues about Christian music, versus pop music, is that everyone knows deep down that music impacts individuals and has a goal and God gave us that present. In a pop music scenario the place the whole lot’s about you and your profession, you possibly can see why these issues flame out so shortly, as a result of they’re simply primarily based round both individuals’s egos or simply selfishness. On this scenario, all of us have a standard goal the place we all know that music can actually change individuals, as a result of we have seen it occur.”
