CC Deville - Guitarist For Poison A Look Back

It's really something, how music can just grab hold of you and bring back a whole lot of good memories. You know, there were always those folks, standing there, arms crossed, looking tough, in the back of the room, ready to pick apart every single guitarist who stepped onto the stage. They had their opinions, and they were not shy about sharing them, which, you know, could be a bit much sometimes. But even with all that, there's a certain kind of music that just sticks with you, no matter what anyone else thinks or says about it.

For me, and I'd say for a good many others, that kind of music has always been hair metal. I mean, it was true then, and it's still true now; I genuinely enjoy that particular style of sound. And when we talk about that period and that kind of sound, a couple of names pop right up to the very top of my list: the band Poison, and of course, the guitar player, CC Deville. There's just something about their tunes that brings back such bright, happy recollections and thoughts of truly enjoyable times. It's a feeling that, you know, just stays with you.

Now, it's a pretty common thing for CC Deville to get some flak, with people saying he's not a truly serious guitar player. But, honestly, if you listen closely, there are some parts in his solos that are actually quite cool and really make you work to play them. So, you know, maybe it's about time he gets a bit more credit for what he put out there. This whole conversation often comes up in places where guitar players gather, like on a community devoted to sharing information about guitars, where players, from those just starting out to those with a lot of experience, can talk about things.

Table of Contents

CC Deville - A Life in Music

So, you know, this fellow, CC Deville, he came into the world on a specific day, back on May 14, 1962, to be exact. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, which is a pretty well-known spot in the United States. His actual name, the one he was given at birth, is Bruce Anthony Johannesson. He grew up in an area of Brooklyn called Bay Ridge, which, you know, gives you a bit of a picture of where he started out. There's also some talk about him being born in Akron, Ohio, but the Brooklyn story seems to be the one that gets told more often about his beginnings.

Long before he became a well-known figure in the music scene, this person started out by studying music theory. That's a pretty important step for anyone wanting to get serious about playing an instrument, as it gives you a way to understand how music is put together. It's like learning the rules of a language before you start writing stories. He's not just a guitar player, either; he's also been involved in acting and creating musical pieces for various projects. For example, he's known for his work in films like "Mr. Smith" from 2005, "Friday Night Lights" from 2004, and the musical movie "Rock of Ages" which came out in 2012. These different kinds of work show that he has a range of creative abilities, which is pretty cool, honestly.

He's a very well-liked and, some might say, quite successful guitar player who, as we mentioned, came into the world on May 14, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York State, in the United States. His work as the lead guitar player for the group Poison is what many people know him for. This band, Poison, is a very popular group that has sold a lot of records, many, many millions of them, in fact. His contributions to the band's sounds have helped them sell more than 45 million records, which is a truly huge number and shows how much people enjoy their tunes.

Personal Details of CC Deville
DetailInformation
Birth NameBruce Anthony Johannesson
Birth DateMay 14, 1962
BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York, USA
Known ForLead Guitarist for Poison, Actor, Composer
Notable Film/TV WorkMr. Smith (2005), Friday Night Lights (2004), Rock of Ages (2012)
Music Career StartedLate 1980s

How Did CC Deville Shape Poison's Sound?

The group Poison first got together in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, back in 1983. They quickly became a band that many people knew and enjoyed. The most well-known version of the band, the one that had the most success, included the main singer, Bret Michaels, the bass player, Bobby Dall, the person who played the drums, Rikki Rockett, and of course, CC Deville on guitar. These four individuals really clicked, and their combined efforts created the distinctive sound that so many people associate with Poison. They put out some pretty big songs that, you know, everyone seemed to be singing along to.

CC Deville was right there, in the studio, when the band put down some of their earliest and most recognized songs. For instance, he played on "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Look What the Cat Dragged In." These tunes were recorded with a group called the Screaming Mimi's, which is a little piece of history some folks might not know. His guitar playing on these tracks really helped set the tone for what Poison would become. It's pretty clear that his particular way of playing the instrument was a big part of why those songs sounded the way they did, and why they became so popular. You could say, in a way, that his unique touch was crucial to their early success.

Is CC Deville's Guitar Work Truly Underrated?

It's a pretty common thing to hear people talk about CC Deville's guitar playing as not being very serious, or perhaps not as technically skilled as some other guitar players. But, honestly, if you take a moment to really listen to some of his solos, you'll find there's some pretty cool stuff in there. There are parts that, you know, are actually quite tricky to play, requiring a good bit of effort and practice to get just right. It's not just simple, easy lines; there are moments of real inventiveness and skill that might surprise those who only listen casually. So, perhaps it's time he got a little more recognition for what he actually brings to the table with his instrument.

When it comes to getting that particular sound that CC Deville has, you can, in some respects, probably get close with almost any kind of pickup on your guitar. However, if it were me, and I wanted to get that sound, I'd start looking at pickups that are a bit hotter, the kind that are similar to the old PAF style pickups. Something from the custom series, for example, would probably be a good place to begin. These types of pickups tend to give you a bit more output and a certain kind of warmth that can really help shape your sound to be like his. It's really about finding the right tools to get the tone you're looking for, and for his style, those hotter pickups are a good starting point.

What Else Has CC Deville Been Up To?

Beyond his well-known work as the guitar player for Poison, CC Deville has also explored other creative avenues. As we touched on earlier, he's actually an actor and someone who creates musical pieces for various projects. His involvement in movies like "Mr. Smith," "Friday Night Lights," and "Rock of Ages" shows that his talents stretch beyond just playing the guitar on stage. The "Rock of Ages" show, which, you know, featured a lot of the kind of music he's famous for, first appeared on Broadway in 2009. It's pretty interesting to see how his work crosses over into different forms of entertainment, showing a wider range of artistic expression.

He's also been a part of various interviews where he talks about his experiences. For example, Jeb Wright, who started Classic Rock Revisited, spoke with CC Deville to talk about the guitar player's experiences and his path in music. These kinds of conversations give people a chance to hear directly from him about his life and what he's been doing. It's a way for fans to connect with the person behind the music and learn more about his thoughts and feelings about his journey.

Why Do People Still Love CC Deville and Hair Metal?

There's a strong, enduring affection for hair metal, and for CC Deville and Poison, among a lot of people. You can, you know, hear folks say whatever they want about Poison, but for many of us, we've really enjoyed their music since way back in 1987. It's a kind of music that just brings back such a rush of good feelings and memories of a simpler, more fun time. It's like, you know, a piece of our past that we can still visit and enjoy. The band, including CC Deville, is certainly not forgotten, and their tunes still get played and enjoyed by many.

One of the most looked-forward-to rock concerts of the summer of 1999 was the Poison reunion concert series. This brought back together the main singer, Bret Michaels, the bass player, Bobby Dall, the drummer, Rikki Rockett, and, of course, CC Deville on guitar. Seeing them all back together on stage was a big deal for a lot of fans, and it showed just how much people still cared about this group and their music. It’s pretty clear that the connection people have with this band, and with CC Deville’s part in it, runs deep.

The Lasting Mark of CC Deville

When you consider the impact CC Deville has had, it’s really quite something. He's been in the music business since the later part of the 1980s, which is a pretty long stretch of time. His work with Poison, a group that has sold a huge amount of records, means he's reached a vast number of listeners. There's a new official social media page dedicated to him as the guitar player and songwriter for Poison, which shows that there's still a lot of interest in what he's doing and what he's done. People are still looking up his live performances, like that one "insane" solo, which, you know, some folks had to watch many times just to take it all in.

The Sound of CC Deville

Talking about the specific sounds that CC Deville created, it's worth noting that he was the one who recorded the guitar parts for songs like "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Look What the Cat Dragged In." These tunes are, basically, cornerstones of Poison's early work and were a big part of why they became so popular. His style, which some might have criticized as not being "serious," actually had a distinct personality that really made the songs stand out. It’s almost as if his playing gave those tracks a certain kind of energy that was uniquely his.

A Look at CC Deville's Journey

Looking at the whole story of CC Deville, from his birth in Brooklyn back in 1962, through his early studies in music, to his rise as the lead guitar player for a multi-platinum band like Poison, it's a pretty interesting path. He's not just a musician; he's also an actor and a composer, showing a broad range of creative pursuits. The band's reunion concerts, the continued interest in his guitar work, and the sheer number of records Poison has sold, all point to a lasting influence. His contributions to the sound of hair metal, and particularly to Poison's success, are pretty clear.

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Copyright and Creative Commons - Student Journal Toolkit

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Creative Commons Licenses - Open Access - Research Guides at City

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