C.C. DeVille  C.C. DeVille (born Bruce Anthony Johannesson; May 14, 1962) is the lead guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling rock band Poison. His work with the band has sold over 45 million records worldwide, including 15 million in the United States. He named himself after his favorite car, the Cadillac Coupe Deville. He has also acted in both reality television and television drama shows. He starred in "The Surreal Life" season 6 and "". DeVille also formed a band in 1998 called Samantha 7. In 2015, DeVille was ranked at number one by VH1 as the most underrated hair metal guitarist of the '80s. DeVille was born Bruce Anthony Johannesson in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York. 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, the Who, Cheap Trick, New York Dolls, Queen, and especially Kiss. At the age of 18, DeVille auditioned for and eventually joined the band Lace based in Boro Park Brooklyn, NY, 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, and St. James, 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 on to fame with Guns N' Roses, also auditioned for the position and made it to the final three, but lost to DeVille; In his autobiography Slash acknowledged discomfort with Poison's image when Rikki Rockett suggested that Slash wear make-up and change his clothing style.