Duncan Phillips joined the Newsboys in 1993 for two decades as a keyboardist, percussionist, and drummer. In 1997 he stepped up to the drums after Peter Furler replaced John James as the band's frontman. Memorably during certain concerts in the Step Up to the Microphone tour, Furler would join Phillips for a drum solo on a rotating drum kit. Phillip's sole presence as the drummer for the Newsboys helped transition them to a more dance-centric sound from the alt-rock that defined their albums with Steve Taylor.