Cliff Williams
Origins and Early Years
Clifford Williams was born on December 14, 1949, in Romford, England. He started playing bass at the age of 13, influenced by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. He played in several British bands, including Home (a progressive rock band signed to Epic Records) and Bandit, before emigrating to Australia to join AC/DC in 1977, replacing Mark Evans.
A Pillar of AC/DC
His first album with the band was Powerage (1978), considered by many fans to be one of the group’s most underrated albums. He then played on all the major albums, including Highway to Hell (1979), Back in Black (1980), The Razor’s Edge (1990), and Black Ice (2008).
His bass playing—simple, effective, and marked by metronomic precision—forms, together with Phil Rudd’s drums, one of the most powerful rhythm sections in rock. Williams never seeks the spotlight, dedicating himself entirely to the collective groove—a philosophy summed up by his phrase: “The bassist’s job is to make the band sound good.”
Retirement and Return
Cliff Williams announced his retirement at the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016, following the successive departures of Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd, and Brian Johnson. However, he returned for the album Power Up (2020) and the world tour that followed in 2024, proving that his bond with AC/DC remains unbreakable.
Signature Bass
He is mainly associated with the Music Man StingRay, which he has used since the 1970s, as well as Fender Precision Basses. The StingRay, with its powerful humbucker pickup and active EQ, gives him that round and punchy tone that supports the Young brothers’ riffs.
