After more than two decades of silence, John James, the original frontman of Newsboys, is stepping back into the public eye with a searing new memoir that confronts personal failure, spiritual collapse, and the uncomfortable realities of accountability in Christian music - including direct reflections on the recent controversy surrounding former Newsboys singer Michael Tait.
In his forthcoming book, Newsboy: My Story of Hope and Second Chances, James offers a raw, first-person account of his rise to prominence, his moral and spiritual unraveling at the height of success, and the long, painful road toward restoration. While the memoir centers on James's own story, he also addresses the shockwaves caused by allegations involving Tait, describing the moment as deeply sobering and spiritually grievous.
James stops short of speculation or accusation, but he does not evade the moment. He calls for clear accountability, truth-telling, and care for those harmed, while warning against the Christian industry's habit of elevating artists beyond scrutiny.
"I was stunned," James says of the revelations involving Tait. "But shock can't replace responsibility. The Church has to be honest about failure - not to destroy people, but to protect others and pursue real repentance."
Rather than weaponizing the controversy, James frames it as a cautionary mirror - one that reflects his own earlier collapse. He emphasizes that forgiveness does not erase consequences and that redemption, while real, is neither instant nor painless.
Alongside the book, James is also returning to music for the first time in nearly 30 years. His upcoming solo album, God of the Second Chance, draws directly from the themes of the memoir: humility, repentance, and the slow rebuilding of faith after public failure. The project marks a stark contrast to his early years with Newsboys, trading arena-sized bravado for unfiltered confession.
This is not a nostalgia play - and not a takedown. It is a reckoning.
At a moment when Christian music continues to grapple with questions of power, celebrity, and spiritual credibility, John James's return lands like a warning flare: talent is not character, success is not holiness, and silence helps no one.
About John James
John James served as the original lead singer of Newsboys from 1986 to 1997, helping shape the band's early identity before his abrupt departure amid personal struggles. After decades outside the spotlight, he now returns as an advocate for honesty, accountability, and hope grounded not in image, but in transformation.
