It's Official: The Black Eyed Peas Playing Super Bowl

After months of rumors it's finally been confirmed — officially — that the Black Eyed Peas will perform during halftime at the 2011 Super Bowl. "They could have picked anybody," will.i.am tells Rolling Stone. "They could rock a million and get Cheap Trick. I love me some Cheap Trick, those motherfuckers is dope. But it says something that they picked us."

The Black Eyed Peas are the first non-classic rock act booked for the halftime show since Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" performance in 2004. "I've been at every single one of them since that," says will.i.am. "The Prince one, the Paul McCartney one, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen."

Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" Named Bestselling Digital Track

For much of the Super Bowl's history the halftime show was almost an afterthought, often consisting of marching bands and salutes to American icons like Duke Ellington or Louis Armstrong. Michael Jackson performed at the 1993 halftime show, but two years later the show was an incredibly cheesy Indiana Jones skit followed by performances by Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett and the Miami Sound Machine.

In 2001 MTV put on a multi-artist showcase featuring a medley by Aerosmith, N'Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. After the Janet Jackson debacle the show shifted towards classic rock acts, but after six consecutive years of that organizers clearly felt like it was time for a change.

The Black Eyed Peas are releasing their sixth album The Beginning November 30 and will launch a world tour to support it next year.

Will.i.am Refutes Rumors Fergie Will Quit Black Eyed Peas

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Song Stories

“More Than a Feeling”

Boston | 1976

Boston mastermind Tom Scholz was as surprised by anyone when he sent his unsolicited demo to record labels and got back a positive response. Scholz said, “I couldn’t believe it. Nobody knew who we were, so I wouldn’t even say we were struggling. It was groveling.” Part of the credit for the interest must go to the anthemic rock number "More Than a Feeling." Inspired by the Left Banke's 1966 hit "Walk Away Renee," Scholz worked on the song for five years in his basement studio before it was released on this album.

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