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Alabama's Live 24-hour Online Guest ChatNewsboys
Chat with Jeff FrankensteinStep Up To The Microphone speaks literally and figuratively to the band's present reality. Following the gold-selling success of 1996's Take Me To Your Leader and 1994's Going Public, and their equally successful world tours, long-time Newsboys' front-man, John James, decided to leave the band to pursue other interests, forcing Furler out from behind his drum kit and to the front stage as the band's lead singer.
Meanwhile, the rest of the band (guitarist Jody Davis, bassist Phil Joel, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips) took it upon themselves to ratchet up their talents to produce the most complete and consistent Newsboys' album ever.
The result? A rich modern pop record, full of all the sound and fury of today, combined with the timeless message of the gospel and its impact on each of the Newsboys' lives.
Furler says, with all of his bandmates' talents, the options in the studio are virtually unlimited. "Jeff and Phil, both immensely talented guys. Jody, a fantastic guitar player and a wonderfully talented vocalist. Duncan, what a great rhythm sense and flair for percussion. They've all got a great sense, and sometimes it comes down to whoever's got the best one wins."
"If we can pass along what we've learned over the past two years to our fans, that would be huge. We want people to know that we don't want to be a bane that has its own selfish motives in mind all the time. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God.' That's what's being taught to us all the time."
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Tuesday, September 22, 1998
5:30 pm cstchat guy says Welcome to Guest Chat! Tonight we are chatting with Jeff of the Newsboys. Please direct all questions to Jeff_NB and enjoy the chat.
Jessica says It isn't showing up. It should be a fish
Phiiiilis coo says Hello ius this jeff
Jessica says Hey Jeff
Jeff_NB says Hi! This is Jeff, keyboardist for the Newsboys. Any questions for me?
Jessica says Are you there
Phiiiilis coo says Hi Jeff
Phiiiilis coo says NB
Jennie says Hay ya
Jessica says Is it true that John James is a preacher now?
cool breeze says Hi Jeff! Tell us about your group. What kind of music?
Phiiiilis coo says umm.... i am freaking out oh my goodness Jeff
Jeff_NB says He is not a preacher yet, but he and his family have moved back to Austrailia and is working with his father.
Jessica says Cool
Jennifer says hey yall
Jeff_NB says Pop music... primarily,.
Phiiiilis coo says Ok Jeff NB how is everybody
Phiiiilis coo says Is peter growing his hair back Jeff NB
Jeff_NB says we're all good... tired. this is the fifth night of our tour and we've got 70 shows between now and christmas. we're in springfield, MO tonight.
Jessica says I love your music. I also play the keyboard and I'm hopeing Everybody gets a sho
cool breeze says How did you get your name?
Phiiiilis coo says put that in too early
Jeff_NB says No, Pete's still shaving... and proud of it.
Phiiiilis coo says cool
Jeff_NB says Sorry, but I we don't answer the question about our name anymore.
Jessica says Who is your favorite band?
cool breeze says What do you mean?
Jeff_NB says It's hard to say... there are just so many types of music out there and I like so many.
Jessica says Same with me
Jennifer says me too
Jessica says but you guys are cool
cool breeze says Who do you guys model yourself after?
Phiiiilis coo says What is woohoo about Jeff NB
Phiiiilis coo says Jeff
Phiiiilis coo says y
Phiiiilis coo says sorry
Jennifer says i've only seen you guys in concert once... i live in the boonies so no one comes around here
Jeff_NB says CB: we look up to lots of people... our fathers, our ministers, missionaries... these are the people we respect and admire.
Jessica says Is it hard to get in front of all those people?
Jennie says Are you guys all from Australia? @Jeff_NB
Phiiiilis coo says jeff is from Detroit
Jessica says Is it true that Jody is from Indiana? That is where I am from.
Phiiiilis coo says or somethin in america
Jeff_NB says Jessica: some nights it is, some nights it isn't. when you're doing 70 shows in 3 months, some nights you're tired but you get energy from the enthusiastic crowd.
Jeff_NB says No, we're not all from Australia. 2 from America, 2 from Australia, 1 from New Zealand.
Jessica says What? So, he isn't.
Jennie says Cool
Jeff_NB says Yes, Jessica, he is from Petersburg Indiana.
Phiiiilis coo says Jeff NB what is the song woohoo about I havnet figured it out yet
Jessica says Cool. Am I making you mad asking you all these questions.
cool breeze says You know how chicks dig an accent? Do the guys from outside America get all the girls?
Jennifer says i used to live in detroit but then i moved
Jeff_NB says Phiiiilis: it's a song about Grace, and about being dead to yourself and being alive in Christ... and how being dead to yourself can still be a celebration.
Phiiiilis coo says We were a little right we got the dead part right
Jeff_NB says CB: Everyone in the band but me is married... so I guess the answer is yes.
Jennie says lol
Phiiiilis coo says I gotta change my name to Newsboys are coo
groonk says bonjour! jeff nb
Jessica says I just wanted to say that you have awesome hair
lisa marie says Hi Jeff!! I really love your music!! Working on anything new?
Jeff_NB says Thanks, Jessica.
Jessica says No problem
Jennifer says i'm a little bit shell shocked and i don't know what to say....i'll think of something :)
Jeff_NB says LM: Our latest record just came out in July. We're writing on the road, and we take a little studio on the road... so we may release a live video and album from this tour.
Jennie says Cool
groonk says so jeff... tell me about your sound
Jessica says My B-day is this Friday.
Phiiiilis coo says I saw you when you signed autographs in Texas somewhere remember I was like azombie staring in glee
Jennie says How long have you been playing the Keyboard? @Jeff_NB
Jeff_NB says groonk: it's primarily pop.. we love anything with a strong melody. it's a mixture of all our influences.
lisa marie says Cool!! Which one are you in the photo that I see in your bio. And who is in the cowboy hat?
groonk says cool..who were your influences?
Jessica says No he has on the black glasses
Jeff_NB says Jennie: I've been playing with the Newsboys for 5 years... but I started playing when I was 6 years old.
Jessica says How old were you when you joined the Newsboys.
Jeff_NB says Groonk: personally, Stevie Wonder... lots of Old Motown. I'm from Detroit, so a lot of that music influenced me. My mom was the choir director, so we always had music in my house when I was growing up.
Jeff_NB says Jessica: I was 19.
groonk says Now that's really cool!
lisa marie says Christian music has changed so much! It's really cool. Why do you think it's so popular now?
Jessica says Cool
Jennie says So that would make you 24...... right?
Jennie says Sorry..... just reallllly bad in math
Jessica says Yep
groonk says an old man like me heh heh
Jeff_NB says LM: I think musically it's getting better. The production of the albums is better... and we've seen a big movement in the youth culture supporting it... plus a lot of people are tired of the "doom and gloom" of the past 5 years in music. People are catching on to the positive message.
Jessica says Do you sing back up vocals?
Phiiiilis coo says Jeff NB When to the Starplex in Dallas Tx Look for the Angels in the front row that will be me and my brother and my freind
Phiiiilis coo says when you go
Jeff_NB says Jess: Yes I do.
lisa marie says Going back to your video. I guess that's pretty cool putting that together. What's it really like?
Jennifer says Jeff NB: what part of detroit did you live in ... i want to know because i used to live there
Jessica says How did you get involved with a band from Australia?
Jeff_NB says Jessica: One time when they were in Detroit I was working crew... and my job was to drive them from the airport to the stadium....
Jeff_NB says ... and we got to talking... and they found out I was a keyboard player....
Jennie says Whoa.........
Jennie says Awesome
Jeff_NB says ... so a year later they needed a keyboardist... and they called me up... and I had one day to learn all their songs...
Jeff_NB says ... I played a show for them after rehearsing at soundcheck.... and after the show they asked me join the band.
Jennifer says yikes that had to be hard
Jessica says I would love to be in a band. I can play the keyboard, drums, and guitar.
groonk says later man...
groonk says uh i mean jeff
Phiiiilis coo says Jeff_NB Do you get along well with all of the group?
Jeff_NB says PC: Oh yeah, absolutely.
Jennie says don't you guys ever get sick and tired of each other?
Jeff_NB says Jennie: sometimes. but not in a bad way. we live on a bus together for 3 months at a time, but it's like a family... you might get sick and tired of each other but you still love each other.
Jeff_NB says Guys, I've got to do a sound check... last question.
Jessica says Do they ever treat you like the "little brother"?
man with a plan says So what kind of bus? We talking plush here are VW.
Jeff_NB says Jessica: no... not at all. LOL!
Jessica says bye
Jennifer says bye jeff
Jennie says Bye Jeff.....
Jeff_NB says Goodnight all. Thank you for talking. Sorry I had to leave so early but our bus broke down today and we're way behind schedule.
Phiiiilis coo says Jeff_NB Was that peter's wife who was the nurse in the scene where Uncle Luigi dies?
Jennifer says darn
Phiiiilis coo says He left (sobbing)
Jennifer says he didn't even answere my ???
Jessica says I am so sad
Jennifer says oh well
Phiiiilis coo says Man that was cool though
Jennie says Man... that was awesome.... and of course..... when he got here I couldn't think of anything except "I know who you are... you're Jeff"
Jessica says I'm sorry Jennifer
Jessica says AWSOME
Jennifer says oh well
chat guy says Thank you Jeff for chatting with us and the Newsboys will be performing at Big Spring Jam on Sunday at 8:45 pm on the First Baptist stage.
Jennie says Hay... got 1 ? that doesn't matter b/c Jeff is my fav NB Newayz.....but didn't the thing say Phil was gonna be on?
Jessica says I know he is so cute
chat guy says A copy of tonight's chat will be up in our archived chats in the next day or so.
Jennie says really?
Jessica says where at chat guy
chat guy says The next chat will be at 6:30 pm with The Buckinghams.
Jennifer says is this chat guy a machine or somethin
Jennifer says who are they
Jennie says Me is thinking so
Jessica says probably
Jennie says Gotta go ppl...... c-ya later!
chat guy says Jessica: You will be able to find it on our Guest Chat! page at http://www.al.com/chat/guest/logon.html
Jessica says thanks
Jeff is so nice, doing more than his fair share of these chats. Thanks, Jeff! Well, time for some more chats.