Will.i.am has revealed that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour inspired the Black Eyed Peas’ Las Vegas residency.
The ‘Boom Boom Pow’ hitmakers are set to begin a residency in Sin City in February 2025 and the 49-year-old star revealed that the group were convinced to do so when they saw Taylor in concert in Italy this summer – even though he was sceptical about the record-breaking tour at first.
Will.i.am told SiriusXM: “I’m like, ‘Everybody’s talking about that Taylor Swift show.’
“And they’re really hyping it. Like, ‘How dope can it actually be? It’s just a show.’ When people praise stuff that much, there’s no way that it’s that dope. It’s impossible.”
The artist was left “transfixed” by Taylor’s show and revealed that it convinced him and bandmates apl.de.ap and Taboo to accept the Vegas offer.
Will.i.am said: “I went to Taylor Swift, like, with super heavy sceptics goggles on.
“That was hardcore, bro. The best s*** in the world.
“I left like, ‘Yo, we definitely doing Vegas. Let’s do it.’
“That’s how transfixed I was (with) that Taylor Swift show. And then from there I called our management like, ‘Yo, that Vegas offer still there? Say yes to it… I just came from Taylor Swift’s show, and we’re gonna do it.’
“I’ve been freaking energised and inspired. So thank you Swift.”
Will.i.am has long admired the work of Swift – whose Eras Tour concludes in Vancouver this weekend – as he revealed back in 2013 that he wanted to collaborate with the ‘Anti-Hero’ hitmaker.
He told E! News: “Taylor Swift is dope. I’d like to work with Taylor Swift.
“I like the girl. We could do something really fantasy-like. That would be cool.”