Holding Out for a !Hero (feat. Brian Alford)

Christian Rock Summer 2025 continues! On today's episode, Brian Alford (The Worst of All Possible Worlds, @spocksbrian) joined Josiah and Josh to discuss !Hero: The Rock Opera: a 2003 musical attempting to be "Jesus Christ Superstar for the MTV generation," featuring a CCM star-studded cast including Michael Tait, Rebecca St. James, Mark Stuart, and more. 

Content warning: Today's episode contains a lengthy discussion about the sexual assault allegations that have come out regarding Michael Tait.

• Follow today's guest on Twitter @spocksbrian and Bluesky @spocksbrian.worstpossible.world
• Listen to The Worst of All Possible Worlds
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• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• !Hero: The Rock Opera, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAAtOosJVY
• !Hero: The Rock Opera, Various Artists, https://open.spotify.com/album/2xyLlMkoj24VBhzRsKJMBT?si=Vg4quh3rSIOvoV7S_lUqfw
• "'!Hero' puts spin on familiar story," Sarasota-Herald Tribune, https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/10/31/hero-puts-spin-on-familiar-story/28772644007/. This is where the quote of Michael Tait saying Jesus "probably looked more like a terrorist" is from.
• "JFH Concert Review: !Hero - The Rock Opera Tour, 11/8/03, Washing Township Performing Arts Center, Sewell, NJ," Jesus Freak Hideout, https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/concerts/!Hero.asp
• "!Hero: The Rock Opera," God Awful Movies, https://podcasts.apple.com/lk/podcast/hero-the-rock-opera/id1041876428?i=1000554848223
• "Hayley Williams Hopes Christian Music Industry ‘Crumbles’ Amid Michael Tait Scandal: ‘F— All of You Who Knew and Didn’t Say Anything,’" Chris Willman in Variety, https://variety.com/2025/music/news/hayley-williams-christian-music-crumbles-michael-tait-ccm-1236430953/
• "EXCLUSIVE: Former Newsboys Frontman Michael Tait Accused of Sexual Assault, Grooming, and Substance Abuse, Dating Back to 2004," Jessica Morris in The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/former-newsboys-frontman-michael-tait-accused-sexual-assault-grooming-substance-abuse-dating-back-to-2004/
• "Ex-Newsboys Singer Michael Tait Breaks Silence on Sexual Assault Allegations: ‘I Will Simply Call It What God Calls It — Sin,’" Jessica Nicholson in Billboard, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/michael-tait-newsboys-responds-sexual-assault-allegations-1235995610/
• "'He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men," Josiah Hesse in The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/13/michael-tait-sexual-assault-allegations
• "Woman Accuses Michael Tait of Drugging Her and Watching While She Was Raped; Says Newsboys Tour Manager Covered It Up," Jessica Morris in The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/woman-accuses-michael-tait-drugging-her-watching-newsboys-tour-manager-covered-up/

Audio credits

• Yesterday – bloom.
• !Hero: The Rock Opera, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAAtOosJVY
• Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like) - GRITS (feat. tobyMac)