EYES ON THE PRIZE
Noughties music fans shocked as legendary band is spotted in Essex restaurant – and pose with surprised staff
One key member was missing from the get-together
A LEGENDARY noughties pop group left fans stunned when they dropped into an Essex restaurant for a bite to eat.
The Black-Eyed Peas and their entourage visited the Hokkaido Teppanyaki restaurant in Chelmsford and looked to be having a good, good night.
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The group had the best seats in the house and appeared relaxed as the chef went to work on his sizzling iron griddle.
They even did a bit of complementary promo for the eatery in the form of a TikTok video.
Band member Taboo introduced himself followed by his co-star apl.de.ap, who busied himself in his phone.
Their current singer J Rey Soul [Jessica Reynoso] was with them as was their musical director, social media guru and tour manager.
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Taboo said: "We're honoured to be at your family's restaurant. We appreciate the love and support, man. Thank you."
The restaurant captioned the clip: "It was a huge honour to host the music giants @Black Eyed Peas and we hope to see them again soon, maybe even at one of your concerts!"
However, there was one question on fans' lips: where was Will.i.Am?
Eccentric Will is the most famous member of the group. Not only has he had numerous solo hits and production credits, but he's also a fixture of The Voice in the UK.
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Black-Eyed Peas are best known for tracks such as I Gotta Feeling, Boom Boom Pow and Where is the Love?
Their biggest hits came as a quartet when they were fronted by female singer Fergie, however, they're now functioning as a trio, albeit with help from J Rey.
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After a four-year hiatus, the group reconvened in 2015 without Fergie.
Will recently suggested the decision was squarely hers when asked what the Peas' current dynamic was.
He told the Daily Star: “We are now a trio. I don’t know why Fergie isn’t on the project. You will have to ask Fergie that.
“You know we are actually capable of doing it without Fergie.”
Surprisingly, the band has a WhatsApp chat group featuring another huge female pop singer in Nicole Scherzinger.
Though there's no suggestion she will be the group's new frontwoman - a gig Nicole came close to having in the early noughties prior to Fergie joining - she is considered part of the band's family.
Explaining their connection, Will said: "We have a chat group called Black Eyed Peas family. It has nothing to do with making music or money. It’s about friendship.
"It’s the three of us and Nicole. It’s about family. Nicole is Black Eyed Peas. She is family.”
Back in 2018, Will claimed the reason Nicole didn't join the Peas is because her then-boyfriend stopped her from doing so.
In the end, it didn't hinder her success and she achieved superstardom as the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls, before scoring solo hits too.
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The Black-Eyed Peas in numbers
5 UK number ones - Where is the Love, Boom Boom Pow, Meet Me Half Way, I Gotta Feeling, The Time (Dirty Bit)
17 UK top 40s
10 Top 10s in the US
9 studio albums
6 Grammy Awards - Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - 2005
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - 2006
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - 2007
Best Pop Vocal Album - 2010
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - 2010
Best Short Form Music Video - 2010
2 MTV VMAs - Best Choreography in a Video 2004
Best Hip-Hop Video - 2006