C. C. DeVille
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| C. C. Deville | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bruce Anthony Johannesson |
| Born | May 14, 1962 |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York |
| Genre(s) | Glam metal, Hard rock |
| Years active | 1981 - present |
| Associated acts | Poison |
| Website | http://www.poisonweb.com |
Bruce Anthony Johannesson better known as C. C. DeVille born May 14, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York is best known as the lead guitarist of the American glam metal band Poison. He has also acted in both reality television and television drama shows.
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[edit] Early years
He 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 (he was two years old at the time). DeVille began playing the guitar at the age of five after he was given a $27 Japanese Telecaster copy. As his love of music grew, he began listening to bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, Queen, and especially Kiss.
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 album, Look What the Cat Dragged In.
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 and Roxx Regime (which later changed their name to Stryper), 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. Slash, who would go onto fame with Guns N' Roses, also auditioned for the position and made it to the final three, but lost to Deville's try-out; Slash, also cited that Poison's music was just not his style after Rikki Rockett suggested that he wear make up and change his clothing style.
[edit] Popular success
DeVille co-wrote Poison's debut album with Bret Michaels. Look What the Cat Dragged In 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 and 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, Poison released Flesh and Blood. DeVille also performed lead guitar on Warrant's hit song "Cherry Pie", from the album Cherry Pie.
[edit] Samantha 7
Samantha 7 was a short-lived band composed of guitarist C.C. Deville, guitarist Ty Longley, bassist Krys Baratto, and drummer Francis Ruiz. They played at Woodstock 1999. Originally the band's name was "The Stepmothers" but the band was forced to change their name following a legal dispute with another band of the same name. Samantha 7 released the self-titled album Samantha 7 in 2000.
A Samantha 7 song, "I Wanna be Famous", was used in the opening of the reality show The Surreal Life: Fame Games, which C.C. Deville starred in.
[edit] Discography
1986 - Poison Look What the Cat Dragged In
1988 - Poison - Open Up and Say...Ahh!
1990 - Poison - Flesh & Blood
1990 - Warrant - Cherry Pie (Performing lead guitar in the song's "Cherry Pie" solo)
1990 - Sam Kinison - Have You Seen Me Lately? - Wild Thing
1990 - Sam Kinison - Leader of the Banned
1991 - Poison - Swallow This Live (Double Live Disc Set)
1993 - CC Deville - Son in Law Soundtrack - Hey Good Lookin' (with Spike from the Quireboys)
1996 - Poison - Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986-1996
1997 - LEN - You Can't Stop The Bum Rush - Feelin' Alright
1998 - Bret Michaels - A Letter From Death Row - Party Rock Band
2000 - The Muffs - Hamburger
2000 - Samantha 7
2000 - Poison - Crack a Smile...and More! (features CC on the bonus tracks)
2000 - Poison - Power to the People
2001 - Poison Greatest Video Hits - DVD
2002 - Poison - Hollyweird
2003 - Poison - Best Of Ballads & Blues
2003 - Bret Michaels - Songs of Life - Party Rock Band
2004 - Spin The Bottle: An All-Star Tribute To Kiss - I Stole Your Love
2006 - Poison - The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
2007 - Motörhead - Kiss of Death (Guitar Solo on "God Was Never On Your Side")
2007 - Poison - Poison'd (cover album)
[edit] External links
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