AFL announces Jimmy Barnes, Black Eyed Peas as 2018 grand final entertainment
After The Killers (and Jack Riewoldt) stole the show last year, the AFL have secured an international star and local rock legend.
An Aussie rock legend and one of the US’s biggest hip-hop sensations will join forces to entertain the crowds at this year’s AFL grand final.
The Black Eyed Peas, led by singer, rapper and mega-producer Will.I.Am, will headline the pre-game entertainment at the MCG on September 29, while they’ll be followed up post-match by iconic Cold Chisel front man Jimmy Barnes.
The Black Eyed Peas are best known for their international dance hits such as Where Is the Love, I Gotta Feeling, Boom Boom Pow and Pump It.
But they will be without their long-time female vocalist Fergie when they play in Melbourne, and therefore the crowds will probably miss out on the band’s hit song My Humps.
“We are honoured to be heading to Melbourne to perform at the AFL Grand Final day,” The Black Eyed Peas said in a statement, “This is the biggest day in Australian sport, so we will be pulling out all the stops for this special performance.”
The LA hip-hop group follow in the footsteps of US rock’n’rollers The Killers who garnered rave reviews during their pre and post-match shows last year.
The Killers were even joined on stage by elated players from premiership-winning team Richmond, and goal kicker Jack Riewoldt sang a version of Mr Brightside.
Barnes will sing for fans this year after the match without the backing of his Cold Chisel bandmates. His post-match show will comes days after he opens the Royal Melbourne Show.
“I’m looking forward to singing at one of the world’s greatest sporting events,” Barnes said.
“It’s going to be a huge day on the ground at the MCG. It doesn’t get bigger than this, 100,000 passionate football fans and rock ‘n roll will be a great mix.”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told Melbourne’s 3AW radio that he was excited by ‘Barnesy’ and the Peas appearing.
“It is one of the hardest things (to organise),” he said, “Jimmy will be amazing and the Black Eyed Peas are a big international act.”
While the Peas and Barnes will bookend the game, the halftime entertainment is set to capture the most hearts. Auskickers, aged from 5- to 10-years-old, will play a match in between the premiership decider.
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