When the Black Eyed Peas land in Las Vegas next year for their inaugural residency, a unique new group member will join them onstage.
Alongside Will.i.am, Apple de Ap, Taboo and J. Rey Soul (who joined in 2018 following Fergie’s departure) will be Vida, an artificial intelligence presence programmed to simulate human experience.
“We predicted this in 2009 with ‘The E.N.D.’ album and the avatar personality in the video and the character on our album cover,” Will.i.am. tells USA TODAY. “When I was running around the projects as a kid in L.A. and Apple was running around in the Philippines, to think that we would have the first AI member of a globally recognized urban pop-hip-hop group … man.”
Fans will get to experience Vida during a 15-date residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The Black Eyed Peas: 3008 The Las Vegas Residency starts Feb. 15 with dates scattered throughout that month, March and May.
Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. ET Sept. 14 at ticketmaster.com.
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Various presales begin at 7 a.m. Sept. 11 (Citi cardmembers); 7 a.m. ET Sept. 12 (historical artist fan club members) and 9 a.m. ET Sept. 12 (community fan club members); 7 a.m. ET Sept. 13 (Caesars Rewards members and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers).
Understandably, questions abound about Vida, which means “life” in Spanish, and Will.i.am is practically vibrating with enthusiasm as he explains who inspired the Black Eyed Peas’ upcoming production – a certain willowy billionaire behind the biggest tour in history – and how Vida will be incorporated into the group’s show.
Vida is not a hologram.
“With a hologram, you have to experience it with a hologram projector, so you could only do that when the show is in Vegas,” Will.i.am says. “When we have an AI member of the Black Eyed Peas, you can engage and communicate 24/7 … our member of the group will be patched into every band member, stage hands and the audience, if they want to engage with her.”
Vida will also be involved with the musical aspects of the show.
“J. Rey will have songs with Vida and Vida will be singing. Taboo and I will be rapping and singing and so will Vida,” Will.i.am continues. “It’s going to be the most interactive pre, during and post-show experience and if there is a place to have that experience, it’s going to be in Vegas.”
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While Will.i.am likens the group’s upcoming live creation to what you might see in Disneyland or Disney World – a “journey, a voyage, a ride” – he reveals that his ultimate inspiration is Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.
He witnessed Swift’s record-breaking extravaganza in Milan this summer as “a new member of the Swiftie army” and expected that the hype would be more powerful than reality.
Instead, “I was blown away. I haven’t been this inspired in so (expletive) long. That’s when I said, I need to start dreaming and go to work,” Will.i.am says. “What cues can we take from Empress Swift when we approach our Vegas show? That camera (stuff) she has? I’ve never seen a group or artist do that. I’ve seen a network do it and the Super Bowl do it. I’m watching the most awesome theatrical pop culture film at a show. Of course she’s talented, but she gives you all this emotion in that format. It’s flawless execution.”
Will.i.am has grand plans for the show beyond Las Vegas, predicting that it could be transferred to Broadway or London’s West End.
But for the moment, he’s immersed in creativity.
“It’s like I waited my whole career for this moment.”
