Black Eyed Peas to Host Super Bowl Party

28 January, 2011 - Black Eyed Peas are to host a star-studded Super Bowl party. The "I Gotta a Feeling" hitmakers, who are performing during the half-time interval at the NFL showpiece game in Arlington, Texas, on February 6, have joined forces with Sports Illustrated magazine to put on the bash, which they have promised will be the hottest in town.

"As an NFL owner and a football fan, I cannot be more excited to join forces with Sports Illustrated for the hottest party of the season," group member Fergie a.k.a. Stacy Ferguson, who is part owner of the Miami Dolphins, said. "It will be the kick-off to an amazing weekend in Dallas and we can't wait to get it started."

As well as Black Eyed Peas, other guests include singer David Guetta and Sports Illustrated models Christine Teigen, Anne V, Julie Henderson and Genevieve Morton. The game, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, will attract a star-studded audience as well as one of the biggest TV audiences of the year.

While Black Eyed Peas will perform during the interval, earlier this week it was revealed Christina Aguilera had been given the prestigious task of singing the national anthem before the match. In a statement released by the NFL, Christina said, "I have been performing the anthem since I was seven years old and I must say the Super Bowl is a dream come true. I am really excited to be part of such an iconic event."

The Peas pump it up

The Black Eyed Peas won't reveal details of their game plan, except a promise to drop-kick the beat, pile on the grooves and get the crowd's backfield in motion.

Expect a non-stop hip-hop spectacle from this year's headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

"We'll be wilding out!" guarantees Taboo, one-fourth of the L.A. collective that has sold 28 million albums.

Since releasing The E.N.D. 18 months ago (their latest, The Beginning, is now out), the group has dominated charts, radio and stages around the globe. After packing some of the planet's largest stadiums, they consider Super Bowl XLV a career pinnacle.

"I can't explain how big this is for us," says producer/songwriter Will.i.am. "We played the World Cup in South Africa, and that was a zillion people, but the Super Bowl is America. It's a big part of our culture, an unofficial national holiday. This is a giant honor."

Home turf is a better gig, say the Peas, who have attended the past half-dozen Super Bowls.

Will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.de.ap (real names William Adams, Stacy Ferguson, Jaime Gomez and Allan Pineda) are eager to join the bowl marquee's starry roster.

Until the late 20th century, Super Bowl entertainment was a fairly square affair, filling the bill with marching bands, Up With People and Disney characters. Its cachet grew in the '90s when Michael Jackson and star-studded salutes to Motown and country took to the field. In the past decade, the halftime show became a platform for such Boomer icons as the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, The Who and Bruce Springsteen.


Jackson's halftime-show medley in 1993 set the standard, Taboo says. "It amazed me that he was standing still for five minutes while people screamed. I've never seen anyone command the stage like that."

How to top the King of Pop?

"I'm wearing a jet pack," Apl says.