C.C. DeVille (born Bruce Anthony Johannesson; May 14, 1962) is an American guitarist best known as a member of rock band Poison. The band has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, including 15 million in the United States. In addition to DeVille's work with Poison, in 1998 he formed a band called Samantha 7. DeVille has acted in both reality television and in scripted television drama shows. He starred in The Surreal Life season 6 and in The Surreal Life: Fame Games. In 2015, VH1 ranked DeVille at number one in its list of most underrated hair-metal guitarists of the 1980s. CC DeVille is a devout Christian. Early years DeVille was born Bruce Anthony Johannesson in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York City, 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 age 18 Deville auditioned and joined the local band Lace. The band adopted a highly sexual glam image inspired by New York Dolls and KISS. DeVille also 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. DeVille also auditioned for the band Stryper before auditioning and being accepted into Poison. Musical career 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. DeVille co-wrote Poison's debut album with Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett. Look What the Cat Dragged In was released on August 2, 1986. It included the hits "Talk