C.C. DeVille
The flamboyant guitarist whose searing solos and wild stage presence defined the hair metal era for millions of Poison fans.
Born 1962 (age 64)·American guitarist·Birthday: May 14·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born Bruce Anthony Johannesson, C.C. DeVille transformed himself into a visual and sonic emblem of 1980s rock excess. Joining Poison just before their breakthrough, his guitar work on anthems like "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Nothin' But a Good Time" provided the high-octane fuel for the band's party-hard image. His onstage rivalry with frontman Bret Michaels became a central drama of the group's narrative, leading to his departure in the early 1990s. After a period of solo exploration and a stint with the band Samantha 7, he reconciled with Poison, returning to the touring circuit where his technical flash and unmistakable blonde mane remain a cornerstone of their live spectacle. His career is a testament to the enduring appeal of a specific, unapologetic brand of rock and roll showmanship.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
C.C. was born in 1962, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When C.C. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1962
#1 Movie
Lawrence of Arabia
Best Picture
Lawrence of Arabia
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
C.C.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1962Born
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Started school
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1975Became a teenager
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Could drive
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1980Could vote
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Turned 21
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1992Turned 30
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 40
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 50
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 60
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 64 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As Poison's lead guitarist, he played on multiple multi-platinum albums, including 'Open Up and Say...Ahh!' and 'Flesh & Blood.'
- Co-wrote several of Poison's hit songs, including the top-ten single "Something to Believe In."
- His guitar solo in the power ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is one of the most recognizable in 1980s rock.
- Returned to Poison in 1999 after a six-year absence, stabilizing the band's classic lineup for decades of touring.
Did You Know?
He was originally a contestant on the TV talent show 'Solid Gold' as part of a band called 'Lace.'
Before joining Poison, he was in a New York-based band called 'The Screaming Mimis.'
He is an accomplished visual artist and has sold his paintings.
He survived a serious heart attack in 2007.
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