The Black Eyed Peas Go Green, And Bring Their Audiences With Them

by Julia Rhee

I’ve been on the road for 3 weeks now, living the not-as-glamorous-as-I-expected roadie life on The Black Eyed Peas 2010 tour.  No, I’m not a back-up dancer for the Peas (unfortunately).  I’m not an AV guy or a personal assistant either.

I’m actually on the tour in service to a larger mission: lifting people out of poverty and fighting global warming.  I’m the Tour Ambassador from one of the Peas’ non-profit partners, Green For All.  We are on the tour to educate and raise awareness with audiences across the country about going green, and creating jobs for low-income communities at the same time.

This week in Chicago, an unassuming mother and her young son approached the Green For All booth before the show. I offered up some organic lollipops to which the mother excitedly replied, “Oh, it’s just like the candy that will.i.am had in his hotel room.”

Will.i.am?  Organic candy?  Hotel room?  I’ve been trying for weeks to kick it with the band, and am still stuck sleeping on the catering bus!  Who are these people?

Meet Kelley and Dylan Evans who traveled the distance from New Jersey to Milwaukee, then Chicago, to see The Black Eyed Peas.

As Kelley told it, she struck up a conversation with a fellow fan in Milwaukee about how her and her son’s love for the band took them on a cross-country journey to see the Peas live.  Little did she know, her new friend was a stage manager, and soon word of their long trek had reached The Black Eyed Peas.  The Peas were dying to meet two of their biggest fans from the Garden State.  The group not only invited them backstage, but sent them two free tickets to the sold out show in Chicago.