Cliff Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cliff Williams
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Williams performing with AC/DC in 1982
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Clifford Williams |
| Born | 14 December 1949 Romford, Essex, England |
| Origin | Hoylake, Merseyside, England |
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| Years active | 1966–2016, 2018–present |
| Labels | Columbia |
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Clifford Williams (born 14 December 1949) is an English musician. He is best known as the bassist and backing singer for the famous Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Cliff started his music career in 1967. Before joining AC/DC, he played in English bands like Home and Bandit.
His first album with AC/DC was Powerage in 1978. In 2003, Williams was added to the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of AC/DC. He announced he would retire from AC/DC in 2016. However, he returned for their 2020 album Power Up. He came back with bandmates Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Clifford Williams was born on December 14, 1949, in Romford, Essex, England. In 1961, his family moved to Hoylake, Merseyside. There, he was inspired by the local "Merseybeat" music scene. This made him want to become a musician.
When he was 13, he formed a band with some friends. He loved bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks. He also liked blues musicians such as Bo Diddley. He mostly learned to play bass by listening to records. He would try to figure out the notes himself. He had only a few lessons from a professional bassist. He left school at 16. He worked as an engineer during the day and played music at night.
Music Career Journey
Starting Out in London
In 1966, Williams moved to London. He worked different jobs while playing in many short-lived bands. He met guitarist Laurie Wisefield. They joined a band called Sugar, but it soon broke up.
In 1970, Williams and Wisefield formed a progressive rock group called Home. They signed with Epic Records. Their first album, Pause for a Hoarse Horse, came out in 1971. Home opened for big bands like Jeff Beck, Mott the Hoople, The Faces, and Led Zeppelin.
In 1972, Home released a self-titled album. It had their only hit song, "Dreamer." Their next album, The Alchemist, came out in 1973. It was not as successful. The band later became the backing band for folk singer Al Stewart. After that tour, the band split up. Williams then formed a band called Bandit in 1974. Bandit released their own album in 1977.
Joining AC/DC
After Bandit broke up, Cliff Williams thought about quitting music. But a guitarist from Bandit, Jimmy Litherland, told him to try out for AC/DC. AC/DC was looking for a new bassist in 1977. They had just finished recording their album Let There Be Rock.
AC/DC started in Australia in 1973. By 1977, the band included Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Angus Young (lead guitar), Phil Rudd (drums), and Bon Scott (vocals). Cliff saw AC/DC on TV and was very impressed. He described them as "outrageous."
Cliff played with the band four times for his audition. On May 27, 1977, he was officially asked to join AC/DC. Angus Young said they also picked him because he looked good. They hoped this would bring more girls to their shows.
His first performances with AC/DC were in Australia. His first studio album with them was Powerage in 1978. Cliff stayed with AC/DC until 2016. He only left for a short time in 1991 due to a kidney infection. During that time, Paul Greg played bass for some concerts.
Besides playing bass, Williams also sang backing vocals. He said his favorite AC/DC albums are Powerage and Back in Black. On July 7, 2016, Williams announced he would retire after AC/DC's tour. He felt the band had changed a lot. Malcolm Young could no longer play due to illness. Phil Rudd could not tour. Brian Johnson had to stop due to hearing problems.
However, on September 30, 2020, AC/DC confirmed that Williams, Brian Johnson, and Phil Rudd had rejoined the band. He played with the band at the Power Trip Festival in October 2023. However, he is not currently touring with AC/DC on their Power Up Tour. Chris Chaney is playing bass instead.
Other Music Projects
In 1984, Williams played bass and sang backing vocals for Adam Bomb's song "I Want My Heavy Metal." During a break from AC/DC in the 2000s, Williams joined a band called Emir & Frozen Camels. They recorded an album and played in Europe.
In 2005, Williams and AC/DC singer Brian Johnson played at a concert to help hurricane victims in Florida. There, Williams met drummer Steve Luongo. Luongo later brought Williams, Johnson, and guitarist Mark Hitt together for a charity project. They recorded ten songs in 2007. They also toured to raise money for charity. In 2011, Williams played at another benefit concert. Williams also sometimes plays with a rhythm and blues band called The Juice.
Achievements and Awards
Since Cliff Williams joined AC/DC, the band has received many honors. They were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association's Hall of Fame in 1988. They also joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1982, Kerrang! magazine voted Williams "Bassist of the Year."
Personal Life
Williams married his American wife, Georganne, in 1980. They have two children: a daughter named Erin Lucas (born 1984) and a son named Luke (born 1986). They first lived in Hawaii. But they felt too far away from everything. The schools also weren't what they wanted.
In 1986, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida. This was suggested by his AC/DC bandmate Brian Johnson, who lived nearby. Williams also spends time in Aix-en-Provence, France. He has relatives there. Cliff Williams enjoys fishing, flying, and wine in his free time.
Playing Style
Cliff Williams' job in AC/DC was to play steady and simple basslines. These lines usually followed the rhythm guitar played by Malcolm Young. He mostly played eighth notes. Sometimes, Malcolm and Angus Young wrote his basslines. Other times, Williams created them based on the other instruments.
Williams said about his playing, "It's not the [bass] line that counts. It is the feel." He added that "complex [bass] lines wouldn't add anything to a guitar-oriented band like [AC/DC]." So, he tries to create a strong bottom layer that supports the guitars. He is happy with his simple playing style. He said, "I don't have any problem doing this, because I enjoy playing simply."
Musical Gear
Cliff Williams' main instrument is the StingRay bass. He also uses other basses made by Music Man. In the studio, he uses Ernie Ball flatwound strings. For live concerts, he uses D'Addario roundwound strings.
In October 2020, Ernie Ball Music Man announced a special Cliff Williams Signature Bass. It is a copy of his 1979 Music Man StingRay bass. Williams says he always goes back to Music Man basses. He calls them "a tremendous work horse of a bass." He has also used other basses like the Fender Precision Bass and the Gibson Thunderbird. For his sound, Williams uses Ampeg SVT-810E cabinets with SVT-4PRO Heads.
Images for kids
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Williams performing with AC/DC in 1982
See also
In Spanish: Cliff Williams para niños
