Classic Rock Revisited founder Jeb Wright recently conducted an interview with POISON's C.C. Deville to discuss the guitarist's journey to becoming clean and sober. The following is a brief excerpt from the in-depth discussion:

Jeb: If you had not stopped drinking would the Poison 20th Anniversary Tour even be happening?

CC: "Probably, but it would have been so much tougher. I was driving my whole band nuts. I have a way of fixing myself up a little bit before the tour and then by the end of the tour, I begin to unravel. In the past, I was not able to sustain long periods of sobriety. I would just white-knuckle it. I would end up resenting everyone else because I couldn’t drink in front of them. I never stayed sober to the point where I realized that with a little bit of life modification, my life could be a lot better. I never got to that point. I just got to the point of resentment because I had to hide my drinking in front of everyone. I was never able to stay more than a couple of months sober without completely unraveling.

I remember that the tour two years ago wasn’t any fun. I was cranky and miserable and I made everyone extremely uncomfortable. Even if the current tour did go on with me drinking , it wouldn’t be fun for everyone. I really don’t have an answer for that one. I would hope it would have gone on because I would have hated to jeopardize everyone else’s life for me. I know for a fact, that if it did go on then it would not have been pleasant for anyone."

Jeb: So it was just alcohol and not drugs that were the problem?

CC: "I went through the blow thing in the 80's. Alcohol, single-handedly, brought me to my knees. I just got used to drinking."

Jeb: On the Surreal Life, you said that you came straight from rehab to the show. Was that really the truth?

CC: "They actually pulled me out of rehab early so I could do the show. I was in a four week rehab and I was only there for three weeks. I was contractually obligated to do the show so they pulled me out. I had sober buddies for the two weeks I was in the show and then after the show was over, I went back to rehab for another three weeks. I ended up having six weeks of structure but in the two weeks I was in the show I had a good support group behind the scenes. At anytime I was able to call up sober people that were on the set. My mind was made up that I was beaten. I tried to outsmart my disease every single way I could. I tried drinking earlier and drinking later. I tried doing more blow and I tried doing less blow. I tried only drinking wine and I tried only having one mixed drink. It beat my ass every fucking time. This time, I at least, had the clarity that I could not do this myself.

The three weeks after the craziness of being in the house just cemented it in. I am eight months sober. It is not always wonderful but it is better than having a bad day and being piss drunk, avoiding people, stinking from not showering and having people around me who are not only hurt but also angry from me not taking responsibility for my life."

Jeb: I would have thought there was more of a chance of Ted Nugent giving up hunting than CC Deville getting sober.

CC: "If my life hadn’t spiraled out of control then I would have given up drinking but I would have been dead when I gave it up. You eventually do stop doing what is killing you but it is always nice to be alive after you have stopped. Listen, these are tough lessons but I am glad that I learned them now. At 43 years old, it was late in coming but thank God there is help out there.

In the past I have given my band a lot of shit. I have also given them some great songs. But I have given them a lot of grief, worry and tension – a lot of things that really didn’t have to be there except for my excesses. I am very grateful that after 20 years I still have my band and I still have people who want to see me. Honestly, I didn’t think that I was worth seeing 20 years later. The drinking and the drugs really do a number on your self esteem. Your attitude and your ego goes through the mill."

Jeb: Is CC Deville going to finally grow up?

CC: "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."

To read the entire interview go to this location.