POISON Guitarist DEVILLE: 'I Had A Problem Because I Enjoyed Being F*cked Up'

Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with POISON guitarist C.C. Deville. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Classic Rock Revisited: Is C.C. Deville going to finally grow up?

Deville: "It is a long time coming. For me, it had to happen. I still like the persona of crazy, rock 'n' roll junkie. If I was able to make that work, then believe me, I would. The reason I had a problem is because I really enjoyed being fucked up. If I didn't like it then I never would have done it a second time. All of a sudden, it becomes something completely different and it is not partying. I called it partying but that was only the first twenty minutes of the night. After that I would be hiding in the corner hearing noises — that is not partying, it's insanity. I can't voluntarily kill myself anymore. There are enough things out there that can kill me without me bringing it on. The food I eat can kill me. Being in the sun can kill me. I could have heart disease or hereditary diseases that I can get from my family. Life is traumatic enough without me sticking my middle finger up at God."

Classic Rock Revisited: Why did you decide to quit?

Deville: "I found myself driving in a blackout and I hit four parked cars. I totaled out my car and the police found me crawling two blocks away. They got me for DUI with an accident and hit and run. The next day I checked myself in. There could have very well been a family in one of those cars. Could you imagine the feeling I would have if I had killed people because I couldn't hold my liquor? Could you imagine ever looking anyone in the eye again? All because I couldn't stop drinking? If I didn't see the cars then I obviously wouldn't have seen a human being. It is just by coincidence that I am not a killer — I could have been a killer. I was lucky that I got in enough trouble to wake myself up but not enough trouble that I had to live with the fact that I killed someone for the rest of my life."

Classic Rock Revisited: As a musician, you can use alcohol as a crutch. When you first face the stage without your crutch, it is scary.

Deville: "Listen, having sex without your crutch is scary. I am still working on what I think is romantic sober. Nothing is romantic when you are sober; everything is awkward. I am still awkward as fuck. I am not the same guy who went, 'Hey, baby' and put a lampshade on my head or a dildo in my ass because I was drunk! All of a sudden, I am like 'Is that okay? Is that right?' I'm a bumbling idiot. I know it will get better but I have no choice because I am not going to start drinking because I think I can fuck better. The truth is I am sure that I am not even aware that my breath stinks when I am drunk but I am going, 'Come over here and kiss daddy!' I am one of those guys who would drink and do blow and I would sweat. I can just imagine my greasy skin — that is not romantic. I don't give a fuck what anyone says, that has got to be just disgusting. I have the feeling that the byproduct of being awkward will be respecting your partner a little more. The woman you love is not a fuckhole. I think it is good for me to be a little awkward; it forces me to learn."

Classic Rock Revisited: It is no secret that Bret Michaels [POISON frontman] and yourself have not exactly skipped down the yellow brick road hand in hand throughout your lifetime.

Deville: "It is just one of those things where we don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. However, he has been a very good friend to me outside of the band. We say things back and forth to each other but I would defend him in a minute and he would do the same. I don't mind saying that my singer is an ass but I don't want someone else saying that. If someone else says my singer is an asshole then you are going to hear from me. He can call me an asshole and a cocky bastard but he won't let someone else do it. We are like brothers. We are tense but that tension is what makes it so great. We are both volatile people and we are both emotional. I don't think it would be as good if we just got along like 'The Brady Bunch'. Part of the fun of POISON is that angst that happens.

"I have known a lot of singers and guitar players. I have sat down with both of them and they describe things that I don't see. I have sat down with Edward [Van Halen] and I have sat down with Dave [David Lee Roth]. I have sat down with Steve [Steven Tyler] and I have sat down with Joe [Perry]. I have been able to talk about things with these people that most people don't get to talk to them about. They have given me great guidance. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant — God almighty! I didn't even know how out of their minds they were with each other until I sat down and talked to them. They are better now but there were some problems. There has always been that little thing but I think it makes a great band."

Read the entire interview at www.classicrockrevisited.com.