Cliff Williams
Encyclopedia
Clifford Williams is an English bassist
and backing vocalist
, who has been a member of the Australian hard rock
band AC/DC
since mid-1977. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home
and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage
in 1978. The band, including Williams, was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2003. Williams's playing style is noted for basic bass lines which follow the rhythm guitar. Williams's side projects, while a member of AC/DC, include benefit concerts and playing with Emir & Frozen Camels on their album San (2002) and an European tour.
, Essex
, on the outskirts of London. The Williams family moved to Hoylake, near Liverpool
, in 1961, where he was influenced by the local Merseybeat
movement and decided to become a rock musician. At the age of 13, he and some friends formed a band. Williams has listed The Rolling Stones
, The Beatles
, The Kinks
and blues
musicians such as Bo Diddley
as influences for his style. He mostly learned to play bass guitar
by "listening to records and picking out notes", with formal training limited to some lessons from a professional Liverpool bassist. Williams left school when he was 16 years old, becoming an engineer by day and musician by night.
In 1967, Williams became a professional musician and moved back to London, where he worked at a demolition site and in supermarkets, and played in short-lived bands. Williams met guitarist
Laurie Wisefield
(later a member of Wishbone Ash
), and the two became members of a band, Sugar, which soon broke up.
In 1970, Williams and Wisefield joined with singer Mick Stubbs, keyboardist
Clive John and drummer Mick Cook to form the progressive rock
group Home
. The band signed a recording deal with Epic Records
and issued their debut LP, Pause for a Hoarse Horse
, in 1971. Home was a supporting act for Jeff Beck
, Mott the Hoople
, The Faces and Led Zeppelin
. In 1972, Jim Anderson replaced John on keyboards and Home released a self-titled album
, featuring their only hit single, "Dreamer", which peaked at No. 41 in the UK album charts. Their next album, The Alchemist, followed in 1973, but did not gain chart success. When British folk
singer-songwriter
Al Stewart
suggested that Home back him on his first American tour in March 1974, Mick Stubbs left the group. The rest of the members became the Al Stewart Band, but split up after the tour.
Williams briefly played with the American band Stars before forming Bandit in 1974. Bandit's line-up included vocalist Jim Diamond
and drummer Graham Broad (later in Bucks Fizz
and Roger Waters
's band). The group signed with Arista Records
and released a self-titled album in 1977. Bandit also performed as Alexis Korner
's backing band on 1977's The Lost Album before disbanding later that year.
In 1977, Cliff Williams considered retiring from music when Bandit disbanded, but one of the group's guitarists, Jimmy Litherland, convinced him to audition for Australian heavy rockers AC/DC
. They were looking for a bassist as Mark Evans
had been fired shortly after recording the 1977 studio album Let There Be Rock
. AC/DC had formed in Australia in 1973 and by mid-1977 the line-up was Malcolm Young
on rhythm guitar and backing vocals alongside his brother Angus Young
on lead guitar, Phil Rudd
on drums and Bon Scott
on vocals. Williams said shortly after being told about AC/DC's auditions, he saw the band on Top of the Pops
and reacted positively, describing them as "outrageous".
For his audition, Williams played four jam sessions with the band, and on May 27 1977, he was asked to join AC/DC. Angus declared it was partly motivated because he thought the bassist's good looks would attract more women to their concerts. Given Williams was replacing an Australian musician, he initially had difficulties obtaining a work permit
to enter the country. His first performances with AC/DC were on the tour there supporting Let There Be Rock, with two secret gigs at Sydney's Lifesaver. The album Powerage
(1978), produced by Vanda & Young
, marked Williams's studio debut. Williams has remained in AC/DC ever since, with only a temporary departure in 1991 as he suffered a kidney infection, during which Paul Greg had to play bass for some North American concerts in the Razors Edge World Tour
. The only members who have been longer with the band are the Young brothers. Along with playing bass, Williams also sings backing vocals with Malcolm. His favourite albums with the band are Powerage and Back in Black
.
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, Kerrang!
readers voted him as Best Bassist of the year.
, but Williams found the islands too isolated and the school system lacking. In 1986, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida
, following a suggestion from AC/DC bandmate Brian Johnson
(Bon Scott's replacement), who lives nearby in Sarasota. The couple have two children: Erin (born 1985) who is a model-actress under the name Erin Lucas
, and Luke (born 1986). His hobbies include fishing and amateur flying.
Foundation. There Williams met drummer Steve Luongo
, president of the foundation and former member of the John Entwistle band. Luongo later brought Williams, Johnson, and guitarist Mark Hitt for the Classic Rock Cares charity project. The quartet composed and recorded ten tracks in the studio in 2007, and followed that with a tour to raise funds for the foundation. In 2011, Williams played on a benefit concert organized by Mark Farner
. Williams said he also occasionally plays with a rhythm and blues
band from Fort Meyers called The Juice.
of Malcolm Young, consisting mostly of eighth note
s. His bass lines are sometimes written by Malcolm and Angus Young during composition, and at other times Williams develops them based on the other instrumental tracks. Williams said 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 ours, so I try to create a bottom layer that drives what our guys are doing on top." Williams has no difficulty keeping his low profile within the band, declaring that "I don't have any problem doing this, because I enjoy playing simply. I never feel angry or prisoner." His playing technique is mostly centered around downpicking
, with 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".
and other bass guitars by Music Man
, strung with D'Addario
flatwounds in studio and roundwounds on stage. Williams states that despite trying other basses over the years, he always goes back to Music Man's instruments, which he described as "a tremendous work force of a guitar". Other basses used include the Fender Precision
, Fender Jazz
, and Steinberger
. Williams uses 3 Ampeg
SVT-810E cabinets with 2 SVT-4PRO Heads. If there is any interference with the wireless systems he will use cables in his live performances.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, who has been a member of the Australian hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
since mid-1977. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home
Home (UK band)
Home was a British rock band, active in the early 1970s.The core line up was Mick Stubbs - lead guitar, lead vocals, Laurie Wisefield - lead guitar, vocals, Cliff Williams - bass, vocals, Mick Cook - drums. They also had two keyboardists over the years...
and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage
Powerage
Powerage is the fifth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in May 1978. It is also AC/DC's fourth international studio album. All songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott....
in 1978. The band, including Williams, was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 2003. Williams's playing style is noted for basic bass lines which follow the rhythm guitar. Williams's side projects, while a member of AC/DC, include benefit concerts and playing with Emir & Frozen Camels on their album San (2002) and an European tour.
Early career
Cliff Williams was born on 14 December 1949 in RomfordRomford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, on the outskirts of London. The Williams family moved to Hoylake, near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, in 1961, where he was influenced by the local Merseybeat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
movement and decided to become a rock musician. At the age of 13, he and some friends formed a band. Williams has listed The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musicians such as Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
as influences for his style. He mostly learned to play bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
by "listening to records and picking out notes", with formal training limited to some lessons from a professional Liverpool bassist. Williams left school when he was 16 years old, becoming an engineer by day and musician by night.
In 1967, Williams became a professional musician and moved back to London, where he worked at a demolition site and in supermarkets, and played in short-lived bands. Williams met guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Laurie Wisefield
Laurie Wisefield
Laurie Wisefield is an English guitarist, known for his contributions to Wishbone Ash during the 1970s and 1980s.-Early career:Prior to his stint in Wishbone Ash, Wisefield performed with the progressive rock band, Home...
(later a member of Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular records included Wishbone Ash , Argus , There's the Rub , and New England...
), and the two became members of a band, Sugar, which soon broke up.
In 1970, Williams and Wisefield joined with singer Mick Stubbs, keyboardist
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
Clive John and drummer Mick Cook to form the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Home
Home (UK band)
Home was a British rock band, active in the early 1970s.The core line up was Mick Stubbs - lead guitar, lead vocals, Laurie Wisefield - lead guitar, vocals, Cliff Williams - bass, vocals, Mick Cook - drums. They also had two keyboardists over the years...
. The band signed a recording deal with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
and issued their debut LP, Pause for a Hoarse Horse
Pause for a Hoarse Horse
Pause for a Hoarse Horse is the debut album of British rock band Home. The record was released in 1971 by CBS Records. The band's line-up consisted of Cliff Williams on bass, Laurie Wisefield on guitar, Mick Cook on drums and Mick Stubbs on guitar. It also featured keyboardist Clive Johns...
, in 1971. Home was a supporting act for Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
, The Faces and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. In 1972, Jim Anderson replaced John on keyboards and Home released a self-titled album
Home (Home album)
Home is the second album by UK rock band Home. It was released in 1972 by CBS Records.-Track listing:# "Dreamer"# "Knave"# "Fancy Lady"# "Hollywood Child"# "Rise Up"# "Dear Lord"# "Baby Friend of Mine"# "Western Front"# "Lady of the Birds"...
, featuring their only hit single, "Dreamer", which peaked at No. 41 in the UK album charts. Their next album, The Alchemist, followed in 1973, but did not gain chart success. When British folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
suggested that Home back him on his first American tour in March 1974, Mick Stubbs left the group. The rest of the members became the Al Stewart Band, but split up after the tour.
Williams briefly played with the American band Stars before forming Bandit in 1974. Bandit's line-up included vocalist Jim Diamond
Jim Diamond (Scottish musician)
James "Jim" Diamond is a Scottish singer-songwriter. Diamond is best known for his three Top 5 hits. The first was "I Won't Let You Down" , as the lead singer in the trio Ph.D., with Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips. His solo performance, "I Should Have Known Better", was a United Kingdom number one...
and drummer Graham Broad (later in Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
and Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
's band). The group signed with Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
and released a self-titled album in 1977. Bandit also performed as Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
's backing band on 1977's The Lost Album before disbanding later that year.
AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
. They were looking for a bassist as Mark Evans
Mark Evans (musician)
Mark Whitmore Evans is an Australian bass guitarist who was an early member of hard rock band AC/DC from March 1975 to June 1977. His playing featured on their albums T.N.T, High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock and 74 Jailbreak...
had been fired shortly after recording the 1977 studio album Let There Be Rock
Let There Be Rock
Let There Be Rock is the fourth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in March 1977. All songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott.It was originally released in Australia on Albert Productions...
. AC/DC had formed in Australia in 1973 and by mid-1977 the line-up was Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
on rhythm guitar and backing vocals alongside his brother Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
on lead guitar, Phil Rudd
Phil Rudd
Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
on drums and Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
on vocals. Williams said shortly after being told about AC/DC's auditions, he saw the band on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
and reacted positively, describing them as "outrageous".
For his audition, Williams played four jam sessions with the band, and on May 27 1977, he was asked to join AC/DC. Angus declared it was partly motivated because he thought the bassist's good looks would attract more women to their concerts. Given Williams was replacing an Australian musician, he initially had difficulties obtaining a work permit
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
to enter the country. His first performances with AC/DC were on the tour there supporting Let There Be Rock, with two secret gigs at Sydney's Lifesaver. The album Powerage
Powerage
Powerage is the fifth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in May 1978. It is also AC/DC's fourth international studio album. All songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott....
(1978), produced by Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young are Harry Vanda , and George Young...
, marked Williams's studio debut. Williams has remained in AC/DC ever since, with only a temporary departure in 1991 as he suffered a kidney infection, during which Paul Greg had to play bass for some North American concerts in the Razors Edge World Tour
Razors Edge world tour
The Razors Edge world tour was a rock concert tour played by the hard rock band AC/DC , which had 5 legs around the world lasting 12 months starting on 2 November 1990 in Worcester, MA finishing on 16 November 1991 in Auckland, New Zealand. The tour was the only tour to feature drummer Chris...
. The only members who have been longer with the band are the Young brothers. Along with playing bass, Williams also sings backing vocals with Malcolm. His favourite albums with the band are Powerage and Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
.
Since Williams' introduction to the band, AC/DC has been inducted to the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
's Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
(in 1988), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
(in 2003). In 1982, Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
readers voted him as Best Bassist of the year.
Personal life
Cliff Williams's wife, Georganne, is a Colorado native. After they married in 1980, he moved permanently to the United States. Initially the couple lived in HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, but Williams found the islands too isolated and the school system lacking. In 1986, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
, following a suggestion from AC/DC bandmate Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
(Bon Scott's replacement), who lives nearby in Sarasota. The couple have two children: Erin (born 1985) who is a model-actress under the name Erin Lucas
Erin Lucas
Erin Lucas is the pseudonym of model and actress, Erin Williams. She was a cast member of the MTV reality television show, The City, a spinoff of The Hills, where she reunited with long-time friend Whitney Port. She is the daughter of AC/DC bass guitarist, Cliff Williams. She graduated from NYU...
, and Luke (born 1986). His hobbies include fishing and amateur flying.
Side projects
In 1984, Cliff Williams played bass and backing vocals on Adam Bomb's song "I Want My Heavy Metal", for the album Fatal Attraction. During AC/DC's hiatus in the 2000s, Williams joined Bosnian musician Emir Bukovica's band Emir & Frozen Camels. The group recorded the album San in 2002 and played in some European clubs. In 2005, Williams and AC/DC singer Johnson played in a hurricane relief event in Florida, promoted by the John EntwistleJohn Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
Foundation. There Williams met drummer Steve Luongo
Steve Luongo
Steve Luongo is an internationally recognized drummer, producer and songwriter who hails from Westchester, New York. At the age of 6 he announced to family and friends that he knew he would play drums for the rest of his life. Steve has been playing drums, touring the world and making records ever...
, president of the foundation and former member of the John Entwistle band. Luongo later brought Williams, Johnson, and guitarist Mark Hitt for the Classic Rock Cares charity project. The quartet composed and recorded ten tracks in the studio in 2007, and followed that with a tour to raise funds for the foundation. In 2011, Williams played on a benefit concert organized by Mark Farner
Mark Farner
Mark Fredrick Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.-Early life and career:...
. Williams said he also occasionally plays with a rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band from Fort Meyers called The Juice.
Style
Cliff Williams' role in AC/DC is to provide a steady but basic bass lines which follow the rhythm guitarRhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
of Malcolm Young, consisting mostly of eighth note
Eighth note
thumb|180px|right|Figure 1. An eighth note with stem facing up, an eighth note with stem facing down, and an eighth rest.thumb|right|180px|Figure 2. Four eighth notes beamed together....
s. His bass lines are sometimes written by Malcolm and Angus Young during composition, and at other times Williams develops them based on the other instrumental tracks. Williams said 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 ours, so I try to create a bottom layer that drives what our guys are doing on top." Williams has no difficulty keeping his low profile within the band, declaring that "I don't have any problem doing this, because I enjoy playing simply. I never feel angry or prisoner." His playing technique is mostly centered around downpicking
Downpicking
Downpicking is the technique used by musicians that perform on plucked string instruments in which the plectrum, or pick, is moved in a downward motion, relative to the position of the instrument, against one or more of the strings to make them vibrate....
, with occasional use of plucking
Pizzicato
Pizzicato is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of stringed instrument....
to mute the strings, which he says "adds more definition and tightens up the notes, and it gives the sound less sustain".
Equipment
Cliff Williams' trademark instrument is the StingRayMusic Man StingRay
Music Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
and other bass guitars by Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
, strung with D'Addario
D'Addario
D'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
flatwounds in studio and roundwounds on stage. Williams states that despite trying other basses over the years, he always goes back to Music Man's instruments, which he described as "a tremendous work force of a guitar". Other basses used include the Fender Precision
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
, Fender Jazz
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
, and Steinberger
Steinberger
Steinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
. Williams uses 3 Ampeg
Ampeg
Ampeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
SVT-810E cabinets with 2 SVT-4PRO Heads. If there is any interference with the wireless systems he will use cables in his live performances.