C.C. DeVille

Categories: 1962 births | Guitarists | Brooklynites | People convicted of drunk driving

C.C. DeVille (born May 14, 1962) is best known as the lead guitarist of the American glam rock band Poison.

Early years

Cecil Cornelius DeVille was born as Bruce Anthony Johannesson in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York. His interest in music grew after having seen The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. DeVille began playing the guitar at the age of 12 after purchasing a Japanese Telecaster copy for $US27. As his love of music grew, he began listening to bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and Cheap Trick.

At the age of 18, DeVille formed the band Lace in New York, which adopted a highly sexual, "glam" image. It was during this time period that DeVille began writing the song "Talk Dirty To Me", which would later appear on Poison's first record.

DeVille began studying music theory at New York University, but never completed his studies. Instead, he moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and played in various bands, including Screaming Mimi, Lace Slip, St James, Roxx Regime, before auditioning for Poison.

DeVille's audition impressed drummer Rikki Rockett and bassist Bobby Dall, but angered vocalist Bret Michaels. DeVille refused to play the songs that had been given to him as preparation, and instead jammed with a guitar riff he had written. The riff, which would eventually be featured in the Poison single "Talk Dirty to Me", would ultimately launch the band's career.

Popular success

DeVille co-wrote Poison's debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In with vocalist Michaels, which was released on August 2, 1986. It included three hits, "Talk Dirty to Me," "I Want Action," and "I Won't Forget You." Sales for the album topped 2 million copies. DeVille also wrote much of the material for Poison's second album, Open Up And Say...Ahh!, which was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) would ultimately go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide. It included the hit song "Nothin' But A Good Time", co-written by DeVille.

In 1990, DeVille performed lead guitar on on the smash hit Warrant song "Cherry Pie". A significant growth in DeVille's songwriting prowess and musicianship also became evident on the Poison record, Flesh and Blood, released in the same year. However, by this time it had also become apparent that DeVille had a problem with cocaine and alcohol. Resulting frictions with Michaels led to Deville leaving the band for an extended period.

DeVille's addictions led him into a pattern of destructive behaviour, which including shooting television sets, incontinence and paranoid delusions. He described his Beverly Hills home as having been transformed "[from] the little house of whores to the little house of horrors" [1]

During his absence from Poison, DeVille performed on the Son-In-Law soundtrack, under the name of The C.C. Deville Experience. He also played in Los Angeles band Needle Park.

DeVille eventually embarked upon an 8 month period of rehabilitation, during which he gained 70 pounds (32 kg). By 1995, DeVille had overcome his addictions, with the help of his parents. He rejoined Poison in the following year.

Later years

In 1998 DeVille along with bass player Krys Baratto and drummer Francis Ruiz formed the band Samantha 7. The band's name was inspired by elementary school teacher Samantha Severn upon whom DeVille had a childhood crush. The band played at Woodstock 1999, and released their self-titled debut album in 2000 on Columbia Records. He continues to play with Poison and at various gigs in the L.A. club scene and will appear in VH1's reality television show The Surreal Life in January 2006.

On August 24, 2005, DeVille ran into two parked cars in Los Angeles, causing his air bags to deploy and injuring his girlfriend. He pleaded no contest to driving under the influence and, on October 24, was sentenced to 80 days in jail, five years probation and a $1,000 fine and lost his driver's license for a year. [2]