Highlight Reel
C.C. DeVille was born as Bruce Anthony Johannesson on May 14, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. DeVille fell in love with music at a young age, beginning to play guitar at age 5. After playing with various rock bands in the early 1980s, DeVille landed a spot as lead guitarist of glam-metal band Poison, replacing original band member Matt Smith. Poison went on to receive wide acclaim—including the No. 1 single, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988). DeVille left the band in the early 1990s, when he was battling with drug and alcohol addiction, and reunited with the band in 1999.Early LifeC.C. DeVille was born as Bruce Anthony Johannesson on May 14, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. DeVille fell in love with music at a young age, beginning to play guitar at age 5. Some of his earliest musical influences include Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Van Halen and Queen.
Lead Guitarist
Not long after enrolling at New York University to study music, DeVille quit school and moved to the West Coast. There, he played music with various rock bands, and eventually, , in the early 1980s, landed a spot as lead guitarist of glam-metal band Poison. DeVille replaced Poison’s original lead guitarist, Matt Smith.
Along with Poison bandmates Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett, DeVille co-wrote the music for the band’s premier album with DeVille, Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)—one of the band’s best-selling albums overall, bring in nearly $4 million in revenue. Poison went on to receive further acclaim with the No. 1 single, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988).
