'Idol' drummer Teddy Campbell: 'I'm a walking iPod!'

On Thursday night, it was standing room only at the Guitar Center in Hollywood as "American Idol" drummer Teddy Campbell took the stage to perform and share his personal experiences in the music world.

Campbell offered up some tidbits about his time on "Idol" as well as some of his tricks of the trade as part of a drum clinic for Guitar Center Sessions.

The house band drummer for "Idol" since season four, Campbell has gone on the road alongside household names such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Besides his tenure on "Idol," Campbell also performs as part of the house band for another music show, "Don't Forget the Lyrics," which combined with "Idol" makes for a heavy learning curve.

"I have to learn 1,000 songs in two weeks. I'm a walking iPod!," he said. "The best thing is I know songs. I can go play for any artist."

'American Idol' makeup guru Mezhgan Hussainy tells all

“I love the big transformations,” gushed “American Idol” makeup guru Mezhgan Hussainy in a phone interview last week.  Every season, as we watch country cuties like Carrie Underwood morph into full-blown superstars, Mezhgan is the woman behind the blush brush. This year, Mezhgan was most impressed by Syesha Mercado’s transformation from bohemian queen to old-Hollywood glamorpuss.

But it’s not just the ladies who  benefit from Mezhgan’s artistry.  The gentlemen clock some serious time in her makeup chair as well.  Mezhgan disguises their perpetual exhaustion with primer, foundation, and a little bit of bronzer.  But the “Idol” men weren’t always as bronzer-friendly as they are today.  Season 2’s Ruben Studdard, for instance, wasn’t having it. “I remember when I said, ‘I’m ready for you in makeup,” laughed Mezhgan.  “He was like, ‘Uh, what are you talking ‘bout?’”

But this season’s men aren’t just accepting, they’re enthusiastic. David Archuleta, for instance, once asked Mezhgan if she thought he needed a dusting of bronzer on his neck. Mezhgan inspected Archie and decided he was right. “Good call!” Mezhgan exclaimed, and “put a little bronzer around his collar.” 

And don’t be fooled be his dreadlocks and lazy demeanor; Jason Castro embraced Mezhgan’s makeup case as well.  According to Mezhgan, he fell hard for the eyelash curler, which made his blue eyes “pop,” without the use of mascara. “Now he insists on it,” said Mezhgan. “There’s no way we can forget about it.”

For the women, eyelashes are a tricky subject.  Mascara and false lashes must be able to survive torrential downpours.  “If they cry, the mascara's gonna be running,” sighed Mezhgan.  Plus, the women wear false eyelashes, and Mezhgan has to “make sure their eyelashes aren’t falling off up there.”  When you look back at all of the sobbing ladies we’ve seen over the last seven seasons of “Idol,” it’s a wonder we’ve never watched a wayward false lash flutter to the floor.