What happens when the man who inspired your dreams turns out to be your worst nightmare? That’s the painful reality Jason Jones says he faced with Christian rock star Michael Tait—an artist once known for preaching purity, now facing disturbing allegations that have rocked the music world.
A Night That Changed Everything
Jason Jones, the original manager of the band Evanescence, has come forward with deeply troubling claims about a night he says derailed his life.
Speaking with The Guardian, Jones alleges that he was drugged and sexually assaulted by Tait, the 59-year-old frontman formerly of DC Talk and Newsboys—two bands known not only for their music but for promoting religious values like sobriety and abstinence.
“It destroyed me,” Jones said. “I was living my dream, and he took that from me.”
Tait Confesses to “Reckless and Destructive” Behavior
These latest claims add to a growing list—Jones is now reportedly the eighth person to accuse Tait of sexual assault.
Earlier this year, Tait released a public confession after a lengthy investigation by The Roys Report, which unearthed over two decades of disturbing behavior including grooming, drug abuse, and sexual misconduct.
In June, Tait admitted: “Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity, are sadly, largely, true.”
He had left Newsboys suddenly back in January, saying he needed help and could no longer maintain “a double life.”
He acknowledged he was not well—neither physically nor spiritually.
The First Meeting That Shifted Everything
Jones’s story dates back to the mid-90s, when meeting DC Talk in Nashville had been a dream come true.
But he quickly noticed Tait wasn’t who he expected.
He described feeling uncomfortable watching the singer grope other men casually, behavior he later learned stemmed from Tait living as a closeted gay man.
Back then, Jones was a committed Christian—sober and saving himself for marriage—while trying to build a future with Evanescence alongside co-producer Ben Moody.
Still, he found himself reluctantly pulled into Tait’s party scene: cigarettes, weed, late-night drinking, and more.
“He Had the Power to Open Doors”
Despite his discomfort, Jones stuck around.
Tait had influence, and he helped Jones connect with record labels, venue owners, producers, and musicians. “I had this band I believed in,” Jones said.
“And he could open doors. So I went along with it—not realizing what it would cost me.”
The Night Jones Can’t Forget
Jones recalled a particular night in 1998 when he began feeling unexpectedly tired.
Tait offered him a place to sleep—his own bed. At first, it felt like an honor. But what happened next still haunts Jones.
He says he woke up with no pants and found Tait performing oral sex on him.
He remembers pushing him away and saying “no” multiple times, but each time he blacked out again. “I believe I was drugged,” he told the outlet.
The Aftermath and Lifelong Trauma
The emotional and psychological fallout hit Jones hard.
According to Ben Moody, his close friend and collaborator, Jones changed dramatically—struggling with mood swings, paranoia, and depression.
In the years that followed, Jones fell into meth addiction, describing a five-year spiral of pain and self-destruction.
“I wish I had been more present, but I was 18 and chasing a dream too,” Moody admitted.
Tait’s Troubling Behavior Extended Beyond One Victim
Jones’s story isn’t the only one. The Guardian spoke with multiple sources who described similar troubling patterns—like underage boys being invited into Tait’s Nashville home, where a “no clothes allowed” rule applied in the hot tub.
One person recalled Tait encouraging others to “put [their] penis against the jet” in the tub, claiming “it feels good!”
More Voices Come Forward
Randall Crawford, who had worked with Tait during the DC Talk days, also came forward.
He alleges Tait drugged and assaulted him in 2000, saying he blacked out after just one shot of whiskey and woke up to find Tait performing a sex act on him.
Crawford believes he and Jones might still be in the music business if not for what Tait did.
There’s also an accusation from a woman who claimed that Tait supplied a date-rape drug to another man who then allegedly raped her during a Newsboys tour, as reported by Christian Post.
A Final Reflection on the Industry
Looking back, Jones reflected not just on his personal trauma, but on the hypocrisy and dark underbelly of the Christian music world.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench,” he said.
“And the Christian music industry? Even more so, in my case.”