Phil Joel, a New Zealand native, joined Newsboys in 1994 as its bass player. He took on a more prominent vocal role on the band’s 1998 album “Step Up to the Microphone,” following the departure of co-founder and lead singer John James.
In 2006, Phil Joel left Newsboys in pursuit of a solo career but rejoined the band in 2017 for an album and tour that included former DC Talk singer Michael Tait. Following the departure of Peter Furler in 2009, Tait was named lead singer of Newsboys.
On Jan. 16, 2025, Tait abruptly announced that he was leaving Newsboys. Since leaving the band, Tait has been accused of grooming, sexually assaulting, and drugging young men, including minors, as well as watching a young woman be raped in 2014.
The last single Phil Joel released was “Arms Around the World” in 2023.
