Cliff Williams

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Lore & Background

Williams joined AC/DC in May 1977 after the band fired Mark Evans. For his audition, he played four jam sessions with the band. Angus Young said the decision was partially motivated by the bassist's good looks, which the band hoped would attract more women to their concerts. Because Williams was replacing an Australian musician, there were issues obtaining a work permit to enter the country. His first performances with AC/DC were in Australia supporting the Let There Be Rock album, with two secret gigs at Sydney's Lifesaver. His studio debut was Powerage (1978), produced by Vanda & Young. Williams remained in AC/DC from that time onwards until 2016, with only a temporary departure in 1991 when he suffered a kidney infection, during which Paul Greg had to play bass for some North American concerts in the Razors Edge World Tour. On 7 July 2016, Williams announced his plans to retire from the music industry following AC/DC's Rock or Bust World Tour. He cited his opinion that AC/DC was now "a changed animal" with the recent departures of several core band members: Malcolm Young could no longer contribute due to dementia, Phil Rudd could not tour due to being under house arrest, and Brian Johnson was forced into retirement due to hearing problems. In September 2016, during his last performance with AC/DC at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Williams was brought to the front of the stage by Angus Young to take a bow in the middle of "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)". On September 30, 2020, AC/DC officially confirmed that Williams, along with bandmates Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd, had rejoined the band. Though he performed with the band at the Power Trip Festival in October 2023, Williams is not currently touring with AC/DC on their Power Up Tour, with Chris Chaney performing in his place.

In Their Own Story

Williams considered retiring from music following Bandit's breakup, but one of the group's guitarists, Jimmy Litherland, convinced him to audition for the Australian group AC/DC. Shortly after deciding to audition, Williams saw AC/DC on Top of the Pops and was impressed, describing them as "outrageous". He has said that his favourite albums with the band are Powerage and Back in Black. Of his playing, Williams said: "It's not the [bass] line that counts. It is the feel. My favorite AC/DC tune to play is 'Down Payment Blues', because it's so simple. I play four notes throughout the song, but I get off on the whole thing—not me noodlin' away." He also said that he plays "the same thing in every song, for the most part [...] in AC/DC's music, the song is more important than any individual's bit in it". He added that "complex [bass] lines wouldn't add anything to a guitar-oriented band like [AC/DC], so [he tries] to create a bottom layer that drives what [AC/DC's] guys are doing on top". Williams had no difficulty keeping his low profile within the band, declaring: "I don't have any problem doing this, because I enjoy playing simply. I never feel angry or prisoner."

Reader's Guide

Williams' role in AC/DC was to provide steady but basic basslines which followed the rhythm guitar of Malcolm Young, consisting mostly of eighth notes. His basslines were sometimes written by Malcolm and Angus Young during composition, and at other times Williams developed them based on the other instrumental tracks. His playing technique is mostly centred around downpicking, with the occasional use of plucking to mute the strings, which he says "adds more definition and tightens up the notes, and it gives the sound less sustain". Since Williams' introduction to the band, AC/DC has been inducted to the Australian Recording Industry Association's Hall of Fame (in 1988), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in 2003). In 1982, Williams was chosen as "Bassist of the Year" in a vote conducted by Kerrang! magazine. His trademark instrument is the StingRay and other basses by Music Man. In October 2020, Ernie Ball Music Man announced that they are releasing a Cliff Williams Signature Bass which will be a genuine replica of his 1979 Music Man StingRay bass. Williams states that despite trying other basses over the years, he always went back to Music Man's instruments, which he described as "a tremendous work horse of a bass".

Did You Know?

• Williams was born on 14 December 1949 in Romford, Essex, and moved with his family to Hoylake, Merseyside in 1961.
• He learned to play bass mostly by 'listening to records and picking out notes', with his formal training limited to some lessons from a professional bassist in nearby Liverpool.
• Angus Young said the decision to hire Williams was partially motivated by the bassist's good looks, which the band hoped would attract more women to their concerts.
• Williams temporarily left AC/DC in 1991 due to a kidney infection, during which Paul Greg played bass for some North American concerts on the Razors Edge World Tour.
• In 1982, Williams was chosen as 'Bassist of the Year' in a vote conducted by Kerrang! magazine.