Ready for the return of The Black Eyed Peas? So are we! However, you may notice the line-up has changed a bit since we last saw them. Just a few days ago rumours started circulating that Fergie was possibly leaving the band, and that Nicole Scherzinger was replacing her. And now Ahlan! can reveal what’s REALLY going…

We spoke to The Black Eyed Peas (will.i.am, Taboo and apl.de.ap) ahead of their concert at the opening ceremony of the 2017 UEFA Champions League sponsored by Pepsi. Sadly, yes, Fergie has left the band. will.i.am explained the situation to us: “Since the beginning of Black Eyed Peas, we’ve always had amazing vocalists that appeared on the mic with us. People like Macy Gray, Esthero, Debi Nova, Fergie. On Elephunk, there were several females that appeared on that album. Obviously Fergie was the featured female, but on songs like Lets Get it Started, it’s Noelle (Scaggs), and then Fergie, songs like Latin Girls, it’s Debi Nova, and Request Line, it’s Macy Gray. We’ll always work with good females.”

That’s true, yes, but we can’t help but feel that will.i.am is just dumping Fergie Ferg into a group of female artists the band has worked with in the past. For 15 years Fergie has played an enormous role as frontwoman, and her vocals are strongly featured on the majority of the band’s biggest hits.

apl

So is Fergie being replaced? No, according to will.i.am. “As for replacing, what people know The Black Eyed Peas to be, nobody is replacing Fergie,” he told us. “She’s working on her solo project at the moment, we’re on this brand-new experience, celebrating 20 years of Black Eyed Peas putting out music. We worked on a bunch of songs on her solo record, we’re proud that she has her label, but Black Eyed Peas are pushing it forward in terms of content, technology and experiences on our new project, Masters of the Sun.”

It was reported that none other than Nicole Scherzinger would be replacing Fergie, which quite honestly, we wouldn’t mind at all. Although that’s not on the cards, she is somehow involved. “Nicole is on the new BEP project as well,” said will.i.am. “I don’t want to go into details how she’s involved yet,” he added.

We’re sad Fergie won’t be belting out hits like Where is the Love, Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling, but we look forward to seeing what the boys (AND Nicole Scherzinger) have up their sleeves.

For the full interview, don’t miss next week’s issue of Ahlan!