# Michael Tait, former singer for Christian pop artists DC Talk and the Newsboys, exposed as sexual predator **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2025, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253 "2025-06-06T02:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/41 "2025-06-08T14:05:32Z")
Newsboys have responded. They invite any victims to come forward. > **[Christian rock band respond to former member's drug abuse, sexual assault...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/06/05/newsboys-address-michael-tait-sex-assault-allegations/84062451007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawKyd5pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrpFhMPhen-oHacXRjqBTAV6oiCAiCrF5Yosu7Vzse08t0t4HTGDp2_9S7Ej_aem__8x-7Mn0LQ9qzkFe3gSu6A)** > > Newsboys respond to troubling news regarding their former lead singer, Michael Tait. " If you are a victim, we urge you to come forward," they said. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/42 "2025-06-08T14:35:51Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > BTW, the song “God Gave Rock & Roll To You” is best known as a Petra song remade by KISS, and it is and isn’t; it was originally recorded by Argent (of “Hold Your Head Up” fame); Petra wanted to re-record it with a few words changed, which Argent agreed to, and the KISS version is a true remake of the Argent song. I learned something today. And it’s been more than 20 years since I’ve listened to Petra, and I still remember how the songs go. I did see Petra in Philadelphia - the first concert I went to with my now-husband. The one album cover from DC Talk seems familiar, and I might have it in the cellar. Another argument for clearing out the old CDs. Or it looks familar because one of my college roommates bought the album. We only listened to “wholesome” music in our suite. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/43 "2025-06-08T15:09:27Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > I learned something today. And it’s been more than 20 years since I’ve listened to Petra, and I still remember how the songs go. I did see Petra in Philadelphia - the first concert I went to with my now-husband. I saw Petra at the Palace of Auburn Hills when that arena was relatively new. It was my first concert ever. 1990 or 1991? I remember that God Gave Rock and Roll was played as the credit song to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. My brother and I were both stunned, “Hey…that’s a Petra song…but not Petra!” Back then, we had no internet so we could not look up the history of the song. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/44 "2025-06-09T02:01:45Z")
I also saw Petra, probably in 1991 or 1992. The one thing I really remember about the show was that the average age of the attendees was about 13 or 14, and that was boosted by the presence of parents and other chaperones. It was a good show, TBH. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/45 "2025-06-09T13:57:02Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I also saw Petra, probably in 1991 or 1992. The one thing I really remember about the show was that the average age of the attendees was about 13 or 14, and that was boosted by the presence of parents and other chaperones. It was a good show, TBH I remember one guy had a keytar? A guitar-keyboard thing? I can’t remember a single song they played even though I was pretty familiar with them. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/46 "2025-06-09T14:36:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I remember one guy had a keytar? A guitar-keyboard thing? John Lawry. Had to look it up, but I remember this bit rather well: > **[Jesus Loves You](https://petra.fandom.com/wiki/Jesus_Loves_You)** > > "Jesus Loves You" is a quasi-instrumental piece composed and performed by Petra's keyboardist John Lawry. The song features sampling of a voice saying the phrase "Jesus Loves You". Using a Fairlight CMI synthesizer, Lawry plays a musical piece using... ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/47 "2025-06-09T22:29:34Z")
I think I saw Petra a year or two before that(based on where I think I was living/who I think I attended with). I’m not sure-- I mostly remember it as being loud. I do love live music, but not super loud music. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/48 "2025-06-09T22:31:08Z")
**This Means War** and I’m pretty sure they sang at least one song that I also sang as a praise song somewhere along the line, but that was a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/49 "2025-06-09T23:31:28Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > **This Means War** Oh, yes, this was the era I was seeing them live during. I played this one song for my daughter and she had to admit, it’s catchy. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/50 "2025-06-09T23:35:25Z")
I had a cassette tape with that song on it. And who knows what else . . . I listened to it once, and then later gave the tape to my younger brother, because their style of music was closer to his. (I had acquired the tape as a door prize or a gift exchange thingy or some other way other than by someone giving it to me because they thought I’d like it). ---
**Author:** ![FMera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fmera/32/9857_2.png) [@FMera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FMera)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/51 "2026-10-26T08:52:56Z")
Hi, pardon the interruption, a year and a half later… but if you have a chance to see King’s X, you should. I’m in Southern California and there is no band as good as King’s X musicianship-wise, who you can still reliably see in a small (\<300 person) venue. Honestly, Dug’s live bass sound is indescribable, and Ty’s and Jerry’s sound is also tremendous. i am not a believer but i will attend the church of King’s X any time they’re in town. And give their albums another listen. Their post-major label output, at least through Black Like Sunday (2003), is exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/52 "2026-10-27T19:25:49Z")
I liked DC Talk. One song I remember is “What if Stumble” which begins with squaring the concepts of fame and piety, and what happens if you wind up being a bad role model. “Is this one for the people? is this one for the Lord? / Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford? / If you jumble them together, the conflict still remains / Holiness is calling in the midst of courting fame.” That’s way more introspective than you generally see in this stuff that’s usually “rah rah Jesus.” I also definitely think “Jesus Freak” was less about “Christians are persecuted” and more “Christianity can be cool and hardcore.” I see how it played into the former narrative now, but that isn’t how I thought of it as a kid. I think I’m younger than most of you, and it hit at the right age for me to be surprised and enjoy the “twist” that the first pre-chorus rap is about MLK. My sister really like Tait. She liked his voice. I never was into the individual singers much, and actually had to go check to see if he was involved in JF. To me, that alternative rock version _is_ DC Talk, so you guys saying he wasn’t an original member made me think he might not have been. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253/53 "2026-10-27T19:37:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > and it hit at the right age for me to be surprised and enjoy the “twist” that the first pre-chorus rap is about MLK. Well, I think that now goes in the _obvious things you realize about a creative work for the first time_ thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-tait-former-singer-for-christian-pop-artists-dc-talk-and-the-newsboys-exposed-as-sexual-predator/1019253.md?page=2)