Newsboys Arrive in Theaters & On Charts W/ 'God's Not Dead 2'...

Billboard ^ | 4/1/16 | Deborah Evans Price

[SoFloFreeper]

2016 has been a busy year for the Newsboys and the first quarter is barely even over. The veteran Christian band appears in a pivotal scene in the new film God's Not Dead 2, which hits theaters Friday (April 1). Their latest album, Love Riot, bowed at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums list and No. 14 on the all-genre 200.

Not bad for a band that was launched in Australia three decades ago and has continually reinvented itself. "In many ways, I just feel we are getting started," drummer Duncan Phillips told Billboard. "We've been doing this for a while now and we feel that we're really starting to reach our stride. I truly believe the best is yet to come. I have to pinch myself sometimes, after all the ups and downs."

[SoFloFreeper]

The Newsboys have long had the ability to find the magic and keep churning out the hits. One of the most interesting transitions in the band's history came in 2009 when lead vocalist Peter Furler exited the group after more than two decades. Fans feared that might be the end of the beloved band, but instead the Newsboys recruited Michael Tait, formerly of the pioneering trio dcTalk, who had been fronting his own band Tait.

"Going from a bald headed white guy Australian to an African American with dreads, that's a massive change," said Duncan. "If we were to have tried to get a Peter look alike or someone that was Australian, it just would have come across a little disingenuous, but I think the fact that we went with someone completely different -- although as risky as it was -- it just worked. And those fans that were with us all those years knew who Michael was. He was the same age as us, same kind of heritage. Obviously, now it looks like a stroke of genius, but it was a risk. We had no other option. Our backs were against a wall. He needed a gig. We needed a singer, and there's no doubt in my mind that God put this thing together."

[Mercat]

Not to be disrespectful (my GD and I loved the first movie) but shouldn’t this be God’s Still Not Dead?

[PlateOfShrimp]

At least they didn’t call it

“’E’s just restin”

(Newsboys fan here)

[Falconspeed]

Newsboys do fine work. I prefer a Catholic punk band from Los Angeles: Undercover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sqK0s4G0MA

[dp0622]

I like your title :)

I also liked that they didn’t give a clear cut, happy ending answer to the gal with cancer. Life’s not like that. Those of us who have some type of malady understand that and there would have been no comfort in a miracle healing.

The happy ending is God. Not the physical healing. Though one would be nice :)

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Thanks for putting this up.

Saw them at a friend’s church and they were great!

[Mount Athos]

What do you think of this band singing “God’s not dead”
(starts 1 minute in)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IviOGt68ipk

[Joe Boucher]

I saw the first one and it was very well worth the time it took to see.

[spacejunkie2001]

LOL.

The name is probably appropriate as it’s another “event” that shows that God’s still alive!

The movie is excellent! My family and I thought it was as good or better than the first.

[Rebelbase]

Used to play some Newsboys tunes back in my band days.

The fair haired bass player from NZ brought some good stuff. Tait was a good choice to replace Furler.

I still miss Delirious though.

[alstewartfan]

Saw it yesterday. Very good movie with excellent character development, except for the girl’s parents. Surprising ending to the trial. Worth seeing. Freedom of conscience issues very relevant today, sadly.