Editing C.C. DeVille (section)

==Early years==
DeVille was born Bruce Anthony Johannesson in the [[Bay Ridge]] area of [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|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 (band)|Queen]], and especially [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

At age 18, Deville auditioned and joined the local band Lace.{{fact|date=October 2023}}
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. DeVille also auditioned for the band [[Stryper]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Yellow & Black Attack: The Stryper Story |url=http://www.annecarlini.com/ex_interviews.php?id=1197 |website=www.annecarlini.com |publisher=Exclusive Magazine |access-date=21 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> before auditioning and being accepted into [[Poison (American band)|Poison]].