Where has Jody Davis gone? I heard he was replaced by Brian somebody but haven't heard anything about him since. Any clues as to where he has gone?

my friend is an avid nb fan. i think he left because he wanted to stay with his family and his daughter more. i'm not 100% sure on that but i'm sure someone can set me straight if it's not right...

yeah, you're right Laura. i'm not sure what the exact issue is, but jody's little girl has a lot of health problems since birth and there was too much stress when he was always on the road. so he chose his family instead of a music career and they moved to AZ to be near family for support.

and in my opinion, newsboys don't sound the same anymore with jody gone. jody was the life of their sound. you wouldn't know it since he was never a real "show off" player. but with him missing you can really hear the difference.

I love the newsboys. They used to be my favorite band. I've seen them like 10 times in concert. I always wondered why Jody left.

Yea Jody left in october/november 2003.

Bethany (his daughter) was born normal and perfect and stuff, but when she was about a month old she randomly stopped breathing. Doctors (from what the NB have released) never really figured out why that happened though. Jody was constantly being called home if Bethany got sick (he actually didn't tour during a few months when it first happened). He was always having to go play shows and fly out.

Eventually this became crazy, you could tell it was getting to him without having to be told of the situation. Erica(his wife) finally said something like "okay- the band or us, this is too stressful"...Jody (obviously) chose his family.

They live in Arizona now, which is where his inlaws live, so they have some more support.

Bryan Olesen was originally just gonna fill in during FCD3 while Jody was at home. Bryan is from the band Casting Pearls in Nebraska (www.castingpearls.com).

Behtany is doing better now. Jody does a kind of therapy with her. (these are Jody's words, not mine) You can retrain and reroute the brain, basically that's what we (they) are trying to do right now.

Yea hang on- I have the release that was put on the guys site a while back somewhere...

~*~*~*~

Guitarist Jody Davis recently resigned from the Newsboys to spend more time with his family and to help care for his 3-year-old daughter, Bethany, who is ill. Brian Olesen of the indie band Casting Pearls stood in for Davis during the Newsboys Adoration tour, also featuring Rebecca St. James and Jeremy Camp. Peter Furler has asked Oleson to take Davis' place as the new guitarist. Oleson has accepted.
Peter recently told Christian Music Planet Magazine why Jody left the Newsboys after more than 10 years and his thoughts on the future of the band.

Everyone is wondering why Jody Davis left the band. Can you tell us why?

About three years ago, we (the band members and their wives) were out to dinner for my 10th wedding anniversary. Jody, and his wife, Erica, were there with their 1-month-old baby, Bethany. They had forgot to bring forgot formula for the baby, so Erica said she was going to Walgreen’s to grab some formula. So Erica left. Our food had just come and we’re talking when we got a call at the restaurant that the baby, Bethany, had stopped breathing. Everyone just split and went to the hospital. When we get to the hospital, it’s not looking good. Bethany has massive brain damage and the doctors at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, which is one of the best in the country, told us, to say our goodbyes. Obviously it wasn’t a good time. Jody was torn up and Erica was hysterical. Amazingly enough, Jody’s whole church was there praying for the baby and the doctors are saying, This is not going to happen. But 10 days later the baby is still alive. She is in the hospital and it’s still not looking good.

Why did the baby stop breathing?

We don’t know why she quit breathing. The baby was born premature, so we think it might have been that, but we’re not sure. The doctors said they had no records of this kind of thing happening to any baby before, especially with that type of damage. Jody and Erica slept at the hospital for 10 days and finally, the doctors said they were going to release the baby and send her home. They still didn’t know if she was going to live because she hasn’t made any progress from the time she went into the hospital. The baby had to be watched 24 hours a day and be fed through her stomach. So the band hired a nurse for the baby.

There came a time that Jody and Erica felt, and rightfully so, that they didn’t want to trust a nurse. They felt that if the baby died, they wouldn’t forgive themselves because they had left it with a nurse. So the baby was definitely disabled. It was this little child lying there not able to do anything. Here we are three years later and Bethany is still alive, but she is unable to talk and still requires 24-hour care.
About six months ago it had been about two and a half years of hiring a nurse, with the band doing shows and Jody flying back home right afterward. Jody had been going down to Atltanta, Ga. where they had met a specialist. Jody is a very methodical kind of guy. He is incredible. He will put his mind to something and he will do it. He will read every book on it (a subject) and go for it. Well this (helping his daughter) was his new thing. So eight hours a day when he was home he would be doing therapy, moving his daughter around in all of these exercises. She started to have some kind of improvement, but not much. Many people would have just left the baby, but these guys kept going at it.

About six months ago, right before the fall tour, Jody said things were getting really bad at home. In two years he and Erica hadn’t been on a vacation togetherthey couldn’t. They wouldn’t leave the baby with a nurse. It was killing their marriage. It was all going downhill. Jody came to us about a week before we went out on tour and said, I can’t go out on this tour. If I do, my wife has said, ‘This is pretty much it, so you make your choice.’ Obviously, we didn’t know it was that bad. Jody told us, This is something I have to do. I have to take care of my kid. I have to take care of my marriage. I have to put that first. There was no debate because we said, Of course you do. That (your marriage and family) is higher than what we are doing here. So that was it.

In the meantime, I had been talking to a guy named Brian Oleson, who I was looking to sign to Inpop. He is with a band called Casting Pearls out of Nebraska. I had been talking to him for about a year. I was at peace because I knew the right decision had been made. I didn’t know why this had happened, but I felt peace and I knew I had to trust God. The blessings of the Lord make you rich and don’t add any sorrow, so I wasn’t worried about this being some kind of curse. I said, There is something going on here; I just know it. So I was at peace. The night Jody told me, he was in tears. It was supposedly going to be temporary. He was going to sit out this (the Adoration tour and make a final decision later. So I thought, who do I get? I knew that the Lord’s hand was on this. I thought, I’ll call Brian. I kind of felt guilty about the peace that I felt. I told Brian, Something has come up and Jody is not going to be able to make this tour. Is there any way you can fill in? Brian said yes. He stepped in and started playing.

Jody let us know a few weeks ago that he is not coming back to the band. The guy is totally changed in the sense of you know when you make the right decision? It was crazy. It was like, he moved to Yuma Arizona with his in-laws. And while Jody and Erica’s house is being built they are living there in this huge house. It has been a blessing because he and Erica can go out and shop and they have Erica’s sisters to watch Bethany. Bethany is still being fed through her stomach and they don’t know if she is going to live.

For the last two-and-a-half years it was like this: It was four o’clock in the morning and we were on a tour bus in Kansas City, Mo. and the phone rings and the baby is being rushed to the hospital. Jody would have to get to the airport to fly home. It was happening all the time. And it was just too much on Erica.

So, they are down there in Yuma, Ariz. and I can tell a weight has been lifted off of him. When he said it (that he wasn’t coming back), he was so at peace. We knew it was the right decision. I was sad because I have been 10 or 11 years in the same band with the guy. I don’t know what it all means, but I do know this: When I say the blessings of the Lord it is Brian has come in. And man, talk about someone who has come in and totally given us a fresh vision and who has made us appreciate what we have. He is a guy who fits in (the band) like he was always there. I am on the bus with him every day and it has made it all new for me. It’s incredible.

Will Brian continue with his band, Casting Pearls?

I hope to sign him to Inpop Records. Right now, his priority is the Newsboys and I think it will stay what way. We are just sort of playing it by ear. But as far as I’m concerned he is in the band with us, he is on tour with us and he will be on the next record.



Hope that helped

Thanks for the info I thought it had something to do with his family but I wasn't sure. I had no idea his daughter was ill I never read that anywhere. I might have missed it in your post but how old is Bethany now?

Yeah I agree totally the Newsboys don't sound the same without him. I always told my sister he was the one who made the band. They used to be my favorite band but they changed their sound too much for me. Now their more praise and worship music.

Thanks for the info I thought it had something to do with his family but I wasn't sure. I had no idea his daughter was ill I never read that anywhere. I might have missed it in your post but how old is Bethany now?

Yeah I agree totally the Newsboys don't sound the same without him. I always told my sister he was the one who made the band. They used to be my favorite band but they changed their sound too much for me. Now their more praise and worship music.


Bethany will turn 4 later on this year (September I think...).

I agree they sound really different...but Jody was also there on Adoration- they were headed in the worship route anyways (though Jody only played on 3 songs on Adoration). But yea- Bryan's an awesome guy. Have you seen him live yet? If not I suggest you do...he brings a lot of energy to the show. Phil's calmed down a lot- Bryan picks up where he left off!

I didn't mean just because he left they changed their sound I just meant that they had simply changed their style to much for me.

No I never saw Brian live but I would like to just to see what he's like. I'm guessing you've seen him?

yea I've seen him 4 times. His style of playing is completely different than Jody's. It was weird- for a while they didn't play Jody's solo in Entertaining Angels because he didn't know how...lol so for a bit that song seemed kinda...sad lol- but yea- he's already amazing- I think the thing that really made me like him even before talking to him was the fact that in an interview he said "I'm not Jody Davis. I can just go out there and be myself and hope that people accept me for who I am." or something like that.

He realized that Jody's shoes were HUGE...nearly impossible to fill...but Bryan's SO different from Jody that it doesn't seem like he's replacing Jody you know? That made no sense lol.

But yea- if the guys are going anywhere near you I highly suggest you go. Their concerts aren't as "fun" energy wise anymore...but God's spirit SERIOUSLY fills the entire arena... like what they decided to take out "jumping around" wise...it's totally picked up in the Spirit sense...it's an amazing expierence.

cool to hear he isn't trying to be another jody.

I'm glad to here that he isn't trying to take his place :)
How is his style of playing different then Jodys?

Well...not really his playing style...but hmm

Okay- first off Bryan is definately a good guitarist- but obviously, he isn't gonna know all the stuff Jody did- so yea (that's not what I meant by style lol)

But I guess I meant his stage style. Jody was the kind who would REALLY get into the song...but you could only tell by facial expressions and stuff, not to say he wouldn't move around- but you compare Jody (not like 95 Jody but 2001-2002ish Jody) to Phil, Jody was VERY tame.

Bryan is the kind who will roll all around the ground playing and stuff.

I think Jody was more concerned with making it sound good...Bryan's just...not concerned about anything lol. Nothing against Jody at all there, I loved Jody like crazy, but I think Jody was a studio musician, Bryan's a live musician in my opinion.

Did that make any sense at all?

So yea- I guess I didn't mean his playing style is different. I'm sure it probably is in some way, but I don't know enough about how they play to judge that.

Sorry if I confused you.

BTW- if you wanna get a taste of what Bryan sounds like...don't rely on Devotion...you really can't hear him that well to really get a feel for him. I suggest buying his bands new DVD Live at the Rococo (comes out in Feb.) but it has Phil and Tyler (from Audio A) on there... :) (shameless promotion!)

It made some sense lol.
Yeah Phil was very different compared to Jody. Well pretty much everybody was. He was kinda the quiet band member.
I was really surprised when he came out with a solo album! I don't know if you've ever heard it but if you have well you know what I mean when I say he should have stuck to just playing guitar.

I have to admit that some of the Newsboys' songs are pretty catchy and fun. I really love "Lost the Plot", "Entertaining Angels", "The Tide", and "Step Up to the Microphone". I hope they're now finished with their worship music, I don't think it's as good as their other stuff.

I actually really liked Jody's solo CD. The lyrics were great, music was good, vocals were amazing on some songs...BUT in my opinion- it's clear that Jody is a 'band vocalist'...he shouldn't always be back up vocals, but in my opinion his voice works better when it's mainly blended with others, with occasional 'solo's' stuck in there. But Jody does have a REALLY strong voice. *Starts thinking of when he sang Doxology during the Thrive tour*...good stuff.

At first I HATED the worship thing...I was getting pretty sick of it- but at the last show I went to it completely changed. The guys are so great...by a very weird turn of events I was able to spend two hours before the show with Phil...he really opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. It was strange because I HATED what they were doing at the time (this past Nov.) but I decided to go anyways to try to talk to them all one last time before dropping them, and I went from hating Christians and God- to worshipping God with my eyes shut and hands raised their entire show...in one day.


It was awesome awesome stuff. So yea...while I used to hate worship music- I really like it now. I used to not like it because 1. I thought it was fake but mainly beacuse I didn't understand it- I couldn't relate to it at all...but yea- lol...definately liking their new stuff now. :)

YAY for a NB thread on a Skillet board...I've always said that when Newsboys retire- Skillet will be my new favorite band...lol so this just combines two of my favorite things!

i'll miss jody though, he was an awesome guitar player.

I actually really liked Jody's solo CD. The lyrics were great, music was good, vocals were amazing on some songs...BUT in my opinion- it's clear that Jody is a 'band vocalist'...he shouldn't always be back up vocals, but in my opinion his voice works better when it's mainly blended with others, with occasional 'solo's' stuck in there. But Jody does have a REALLY strong voice. *Starts thinking of when he sang Doxology during the Thrive tour*...good stuff.




Some of his songs sounded really great! But then others just sounded off tune but maybe that's just me. I guess I shouldn't be raggin on his music he's the one who gets up there infront of all those people and declare he's a christian.

haha yea...

Man, I remember during the Thrive tour he sang the Doxology...there were these little kids and they kept yelling "PLAY THE BREAKFAST SONG!!!"...it annoys me how rude some people can be!

I dunno what that had to do with this...but it made sense when I thought of it lol.

But yea- I really liked seeing a different side of him- like when Phil did the solo CD's...it's great seeing a deeper side of people.

I agree with that.

I don't like Phil's solo c.d.'s...he's got a couple good melodies, but they overall are kinda boring.

I really wish the Newsboys would try something like Step Up to the Microphone again. I really liked that record, good pop songs. If they added some more edginess to their sound and (this is just my opinion) went back to writing their own songs rather than using Steve Taylor's smart-alecky lyrics, I think they'd make some really great songs.

i agree. some of Taylor's stuff is fun, but an album full of it get's old to me quick. i haven't listened to my copy of Thrive more than 20 times, which is odd considering i usually wear out an album a bit before letting it rest on my shelf. the lyrics just hit me as blandness trying to be spicy. :P

Anybody know when the Newsboys are comeing in concert?

that was a pretty general question.

I get to see the Newsboys at ATF in Baltimore, April 28th I think

I don't like Phil's solo c.d.'s...he's got a couple good melodies, but they overall are kinda boring.

I really wish the Newsboys would try something like Step Up to the Microphone again. I really liked that record, good pop songs. If they added some more edginess to their sound and (this is just my opinion) went back to writing their own songs rather than using Steve Taylor's smart-alecky lyrics, I think they'd make some really great songs.

I love both of his CD's. I like Watching Over You just for all the memories it holds and stuff...but Bring It On...I adore the lyrics. I love Phil's writing style. I love the first one for the music too, but I couldn't relate to it as much- I AM Bring It On lol...that's still in my CD player a little over 2 years after it came out! :)

But yea- I agree...Steve Taylor is a lyrical genius...but I'm soooo tired of him. The guys did Step Up and lovelibertydisco without him, and they were (in my mind) two of their best records...I actually REALLY like devotion- which is odd considering Steve writes on all of them, and Phil doesn't write on one of them (except for a little music on the second cut- I Love Your Ways)

www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2005/newsboys-0105.html <~ That's a recent interview Pete gave- it's actually REALLY REALLY good (he says some...interesting things abot Sparrow Records in there...I was amused) But it talks a little about what the next record might sound like.

Steve actually had very little to do with the production of Devotion...

^ Oh I know...I just don't like his lyrics. Production is one thing...but when he's involved in song writing...I get kinda bored. I like hearing stuff from the guys. Both LLD and SUTTM both had some "raw feeling" lyrics...which I LOVED. It didn't seem like they were trying to make all of the songs overly catchy and memorable...they were just very honest songs.

Anybody have any of the Newsboys earlyer albums? I do and they are pretty good but I deffindently like "Take me To Your Leader" and "Thrive" best.

i have all their albums (up to "Thrive") starting at "Not Ashamed" (there were a couple others released in Australia prior to that one that i never got and i probably never will). i enjoy the older stuff more, "Going Public" through "Step Up."

I have their very first two album "Read All About It" and "Hell Is For Wimps" I'm not sure if those are the only two before "Not Ashamed" or not but if there is I don't have them. If there isn't any before it then I have them all up to "Adoration" ;D

i think those are the only two, but i'm not 100% on that. btw, nice grab with those. :) never seen them anywhere! (not that i looked).

What's The Newsboys last album "Devotion" like? I didn't know if it was any good or not.

i wasn't real impressed with it, but then again, i'm a fan of their older stuff (Going Public, Take Me To Your Leader, and Step Up To The Microphone).

So you don't think it's a good buy?

nope, but i'm not exactly the one to ask to get as good an answer as one who actually enjoys the Newsboy's current sound. :)

I hated devotion at first, but as I digged in I really started to like it.

Big hits for me:
Devotion
I Love Your Ways
The Orphan

those are basically the only songs I listen to on there. They had too many covers on this album.

BTW the other album before Not Ashamed was Boys Will Be Boyz and out of the first 3 albums, I'd have to say that that is the one to get! It has the Taste and See Remix...hilarious.

haha you should definately get the Not Ashamed and the Boys Will Be Boyz VHS's...highly amusing! (Though you can pretty much only find those on Ebay)