Newsboys band shaken by report about Michael Tait

The remaining members of the contemporary Christian music band on Thursday said their hearts were shattered when they read claims against Michael Tait, their lead singer for 15 years. The bandmates said they do not condone any form of sexual assault and urged any victims to come forward.

A Wednesday story by The Roys Report said that Tait had been accused of engaging in drug abuse and inappropriate sexual behavior. Tait himself did not respond to any of the claims by Friday.

Bandmates Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Adam Agee said they were unaware of Tait’s reported behavior and felt as if they and their families had been deceived.  They wrote that when Tait abruptly left the band in January, he told them he had been living a double life.

What has happened since January? After writing on social media that he decided to leave Newsboys, Tait did not comment further on what led to the move. Last month, the Christian promoter behind the Newsboys 2025 Canadian tour canceled all of the band’s scheduled shows over a lack of transparency regarding Tait’s departure. 

When did Tait join Newsboys? The singer first rose to prominence in the Christian rock and rap trio DC Talk with Kevin Max and TobyMac. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2000 and all three members went their separate ways. In 2009, the former frontman for the Newsboys, Peter Furler, left his band. Furler was one of the founding members that formed the Newsboys in 1987 in Australia. Tait assumed the role of lead singer and was with the Newsboys for 15 years.