Will.i.Am iPhone Calls ... During Melbourne Concert

PHONING IT IN

Will.i.am is getting blasted for appearing so bored, he was checking his iPhone during a Black Eyed Peas concert.

Will and Co. were performing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday in Australia -- the main pre-game entertainment at the Australian Football League Grand Final.

Check out the video, as Will checks his phone at least twice as the group sings its hit, "Let's Get it Started."

He later had an explanation ... "Sharing on socials isn't checking phone mid-song ... that's me being a performer & cameraman showing the world how Awesome Australia is."

He added, "I wanted the world to see Australia from my point of view," and said he was sorry if people were offended.

Fergie Lands New Job ... Hosting FOX's 'The Four'

READY FOUR MY CLOSEUP

Fergie might not be joining FOX's new singing competition 'The Four' as a judge, but she'll still get plenty of face time because she's signed on to host.

Fergie announced the news via social media Monday.

As we previously reported ... Fergie had been one of the 3 female candidates for the final judge's seat, which ultimately went to Meghan Trainor. DJ Khaled, Diddy and music honcho Charlie Walk round out the rest of the judging panel for 'The Four.'

The show is supposed to have a hip-hop influence, so Fergie should fit right in, given her time with the Black Eyed Peas.

'The Four' premieres on FOX in January.

Black Eyed Peas Manchester is Where the Love Was

STAYING POSITIVE
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The Black Eyed Peas got back from Manchester overwhelmed by what they'd seen there -- a city determined to not let terrorism paralyze them.

We got will.i.am and his group Monday at LAX as they returned from Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester concert, and the Peas sure seemed humbled by the experience.

Will gave a shout-out to Ariana and what she's endured ... not to mention what she pulled off with the concert. Taboo described the atmosphere at the concert, which could be summed up with 2 words ... no fear.

Ken Shamrock DON'T MESS WITH FERGIE Or I'll Beat Your Ass!!

Ken Shamrock isn't afraid to put the black eye in Black Eyed Peas if ANYONE messes with Fergie -- because the UFC legend was part of her personal security team yesterday ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Shamrock -- who's now in the celeb bodyguard business -- was watching Fergie's back at a footwear convention in Vegas. We're glad to report everyone behaved ... Ken didn't need to choke anyone out.

As we previously reported, 50-year-old Ken is one of the top guys at Pro-Tect Global -- and has been charged with keeping big stars like 50 Cent and Kristin Cavallari safe.

Despite the fact he's rollin' with huge celebs, we're told the World's Most Dangerous Man was hit up for some autographs himself --- and, of course, he obliged.

KEN SHAMROCK!!!

Fergie from Black Eyed Peas I'm Changing My Entire Name

Fergie Ferg from the Black Eyed Peas is in the middle of a serious identity crisis -- 'cause she's petitioning the court to legally change her FIRST and LAST name ... TMZ has learned.

Ferg -- born Stacy Ann Ferguson -- has filed legal papers requesting to officially change her name to Fergie Duhamel ... roughly 4-and-a-half years after marrying Josh Duhamel.

The reason for wanting to change her last name is obvious ... but in the docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Ferg's lawyer says she wants to swap Stacy for Fergie in order to "conform to the first name which she is commonly and professionally known as, and has been for many years."

In other words ... no one's called her "Stacy" in YEARS.

In order for the court to grant her request, Ferg ... or Stacy (for now) ... must publish a notice in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks (just like Ron Artest was required to do in order to become Metta World Peace).

She'll most likely get her wish if she completes her task by August 16 -- when a hearing is scheduled for the matter.

Good luck!

The Black Eyed Peas On a Break, Not Breaking up

Rumors have been swirling that The Black Eyed Peas might be breaking up -- but yesterday at LAX, Fergie and Taboo cleared it all up ... they're taking a break, not breaking up.

Is that a good thing?

Black Eyed Peas Sorry, We're OUT of the MJ Tribute Concert

The Black Eyed Peas have PULLED OUT of Saturday's big Michael Jackson Tribute Concert -- after promoters claim they have suddenly become "unable to perform."

The details are still unclear -- but the promoters just released a statement saying, "Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Black Eyed Peas will be unable to perform at this Saturday’s Michael Forever event."

Chris Hunt, the CEO of Global Live Events -- the company behind the show -- claims the show will still feature several other "earth shattering artists" ... such as Christina Aguilera and Cee-Lo Green.

TMZ reached out to a rep for the Peas ... who confirmed the group is out of the show, but wouldn't expand on the reason behind the decision.

Apl.de.ap vs. Will.i.am WHO"D YOU RATHER?

Will.i.am (right) from the Black Eyed Peas posed with another member from the group who isn't Fergie while at a premiere of a documentary movie earlier this week.

The question is...

More Who'd You Rather?

Fergie -- Don't Pick on Christina Aguilera!

Fergie is coming to Christina Aguilera's defense after she flubbed the national anthem yesterday before the Super Bowl -- claiming Xtina's "human" ... and everyone makes mistakes.

Fergie was on the Dan Patrick Show this morning -- where she admitted her own performance with the Black Eyed Peas also failed to meet her expectations ... calling some of her notes "pitchy."

Boom boom pffft.

Fergie's Body The Best in Hollywood?

Fergie's rockin' bod on a Brazilian beach ignited the world's most important argument ... does she have the best physique in Hollywood? Bonus question: what's on Paul Walker's stomach?

Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!

Will.i.am Uses iPad to Smash Crime Wave

Will.i.am went on a furious hunt for justice after some scumbag broke into his Bentley last week and now cops say Will's detective work -- aided by his iPad -- may have brought down a one-man crime wave.

As TMZ first reported, some bad guy made off with over $10,000 worth of the rapper's jewelry and personal property -- including a sleek new iPad -- when he broke into the Black Eyed Peas member's ride ... which was parked in the Hollywood Hills.

But according to law enforcement sources, Will had a secret weapon -- he used his iPad's built-in tracking system to locate the thief's whereabouts ... and then forwarded the info to cops.

We're told police already got most of Will.i.am's stuff returned to him and are this close to arresting the perp -- who's currently on the run.

Will.i.am -- I Gotta Feeling My Bentley Got Burgled

Will.i.am's ride got boom boom pow'd in the Hollywood Hills Monday night -- according to law enforcement sources, bad guys broke into his Bentley and jacked over $10,000 worth of stuff.

TMZ has learned the Black Eyed Peas star made the shocking discovery himself and called the police to file a report. According to sources, the loot included jewelry and several of the singer's personal items.

We're told cops are hot on the trail of the bad guys -- and some of the stolen property has already been recovered.

Bisexual is the New Black ... Eyed Pea

First Megan Fox ... now Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas is talkin' about her attraction to the lovely lumps of other ladies.

According to The Sun, Fergie Ferg claims she screwed around with chicks before saying, "Put it this way, I've experimented definitely, but I have never had a steady girlfriend."

Ferg just married Josh Duhamel -- that lucky sonofabitch.

Celebrity Mash Up -- Guess Who!

apl.de.ap's Black Eyed Pea Culpa

apl.de.ap only had two words for Clay Aiken and Ricky Martin last night -- "I'm sorry."

That sure beats the two he had for them last time -- "That's gay" -- when asked about the two boys going the turkey baster route for babymaking.

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Black Eyed Plea: I'm No Homophobe, But...

apl.de.ap from the Black Eyes Peas needs to take a cue from his songs and learn when to "Shut Up" -- especially when he's throwing the G-bomb around.

When asked about Ricky Martin's in vitro twins and the Claby, the Pea's eloquent response was "that's gay" -- but literally seconds after he dropped the statement, the furious backtracking began! His assistant wanted us to "edit that part out." We didn't.

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