No Customs problems as Black Eyed Peas arrive in NZ

By NATASHA HARRIS

Waiting nervously while Auckland Airport Customs officers checked his passport late last night, Black Eyed Peas vocalist Allen "apl.de.ap" Pineda feared the worst. After getting caught with cannabis at Auckland Airport three years ago, the memory of getting strip searched and sent back to the United States was fresh in his mind. But he admitted he knew better this time.

"It was cool, they [Customs] just checked my passport. I thought they were going to get me naked like last time but they didn't and they didn't check my bags either," Pineda said.

The US hip hop band's four members, Tracy "Fergie" Ferguson, Taboo, William "will.i.am" Adams and Pineda, and four-piece band, were in high spirits despite their long journey from the US.

"We had a great time [on the plane], we took over the plane and had a pillowfight at the back," Taboo said.

Newcomer to the band Fergie was excited to be in the country as it is her first time here.

"I wanna go for a swim and go to the Shire [a Lord of the Rings location]," she said, admitting she had had her bag checked by Customs officers, although it only had beef jerky in it.

Will said: "We're going to have lots of fun tomorrow, there'll definitely be a lot of breakdancing."

And with lots of yelps and laughter, the band left the airport to have a deserved rest before their 2.40pm performance at the Big Day Out today.

* nzherald.co.nz will feature updates throughout the day from the Big Day Out beginning at 12pm on Friday.