THE 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 (he was 2 years old at the time). DeVille began playing the guitar at the age of 5 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 and 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.
DeVille co-wrote Poison's debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In with vocalist Michaels, which was released on May 16, 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 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.
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 the Los Angeles band Needle Park.
Recent times
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 Deville's elementary school teacher Samantha Severn, upon whom he had a childhood crush. The band played at Woodstock 1999 and released their self-titled debut album in 2000 on Columbia Records.
In 2001, C.C. DeVille provided the inspiration for C.C. Banana, an improv comic who impersonated DeVille while dressed in a large yellow banana costume. C.C. Banana has since gone on to have a career of his own by interviewing and harassing other rock stars and celebrities.
DeVille appeared on VH1's reality television show The Surreal Life in March 2006, the same day he got out of rehab. DeVille recently tasted Billboard chart success with the Poison release The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock which charted at #17; the compilation celebrates Poison's 20th anniversary, a large United States tour followed the release.
DeVille played lead guitar as a guest on a Motörhead's song "God Was Never On Your Side" from their latest album Kiss of Death.
DeVille guest-starred as Ashley Davies' rich, rock-star father, Raife Davies, on the new television series, South of Nowhere. Raife Davies was killed in a car accident in the series' second season premier. South of Nowhere currently airs on The N.
In August 2005 "Prosecutors say Deville hit a parked vehicle Aug. 24 while he was backing out of the driveway of his girlfriend's home. He allegedly rammed another parked car, deploying his vehicle's air bags and injuring his girlfriend." Later he pleaded no contest to driving under the influence causing injury."[1]
In January of 2007 he appeared on The Surreal Life: Fame Games, a spinoff of VH1's The Surreal Life, along with other former Surreal Life alumni trying to win $100,000. He was eliminated from the competition on the episode aired on February 11, 2007 after losing a game of "Go Fish" to Ron Jeremy and Sandra "Pepa" Denton from the rap group Salt-N-Pepa.
Motörhead's latest album, Kiss of Death, entered the national album charts in the following countries: Germany: #4, Norway: #9, Sweden: #13, Austria: #20, Switzerland: #26, U.K.: #45, Denmark: #53. The CD was recorded at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles with Cameron Webb, who also worked with the group on 2004's Inferno. The album includes guest appearances by Poison guitarist C.C. Deville and Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez.
2007 Preparations To Record A Covers Album
January 03, 2007 Poison announced on their official My Space page that they would like the fans to help pick songs for the new album they are to go into the studio to record an album of your favorite classic rock songs. The fans have weighed in, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird," The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz," and AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" are among the top vote-getters, along with what might be an obvious choice -- Alice Cooper's "Poison."
Poison had a lot of success in 2006 with a cover of Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band." and are no strangers to recording covers on their albums. Other songs they have covered are "Your Mama Don't Dance" (Loggins and Messina), "Squeeze Box" (The Who), "Cover of the Rolling Stone" (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show) and "Rock and Roll All Nite" (KISS). Rikki Rockett also recorded a solo album of covers in 2003 entitled Glitter 4 Your Soul.
January 28, 2007 posted by Rikki Rockett from his Myspace page - "The Album will be ready for a summer Poison tour. That is the plan, anyway. p.s. The songs we are doing are NOT what you expect!"
On February 14, 2007, it was released by VH1 that Bret Michaels is going to have his own reality show called "Rock of Love With Bret Michaels" where women will have to compete for his love and prove they can keep up with his rock star life.[3][4]
^^^^^^^
(THANKS MUCH TO .wikipedia.org)
SEE WHAT C.C.'S BANANA'S UP TOO: http://www.ccbanana.com/sludge/adventuresofccbanana.htm
Samantha 7's offical website:
http://www.geocities.com/samantha7site/
<3 i'LL GET MORE..TRUST ME......OH YEAH!! anyone no's what happened to plantdeville..PLEASE EMAIL me... haley12492@usa.com
ATTENTION....CC DEVILLE NEWS:
C.C. DeVille and long time girlfriends Shannon Malone are expecting a baby in March of 07', but C.C. wants a Paternity test.
<3 Haley Cislo
<3 Hal3y
Create a free website at Webs.com