The Newsboys, who began their careers playing for beer, money, and female attention, came to know the Lord en masse. They began intergrating their music with their growing desire to serve Jesus. The group found gigs, playing for youth groups, retreats, and ladies' nights, until members of the Christian rock band, White Heart, heard the Newsboys and invitied them to open for their Brisbane show. A month later an American label signed them. Their first album was released in 1988. Five albums later, the release of  Take Me To Your Leader ushered in a new creative chapter for the band and highlights how far the group has already progressed. With only two of the original members, the current makeup of the band is a hybrid of Aussie and American talent. The band's tour bus antics have become legendary -tag team wrestling at 5 a.m., paint ball battles in concert hall parking lots, and rampant practical joking. All joking aside, the Newsboys consider one another best friends. Except for wives and children, the band keeps their primary associations with each other. The Newsboys want their music to minister to the church, not only to invite new believers to come to Christ, but also to hold up those who already know the Lord and need encouragement to share their faith and grow in their commitment to Jesus. Do fans react to this kind of encouragement ? Absolutely. The Newsboys pack stadiums world wide. As the Newsboys popularity grows, so does the scope and intensity of their live show. So, what do the Newsboys hope fans will remember most about their live show ? "Jesus didn't come to earth to be a rock star," says member Peter Furler. "He came to serve. When we go out to do a concert we're there to serve the promoters and the youth pastors and the people.   Some bands are copying so much of what is happening out in the world. We're not going to do that. The world dosen't make our guidelines. Our guideline is the Word of God"

From YC '98/Real Magazine, '98