Cliff Williams
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Clifford Williams is a British 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 a European tour.
Cliff Williams was born on 14 December 1949 in Romford, 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 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 1966, 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 , 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. 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 27 May 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 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1982, Kerrang! readers voted him as Best Bassist of the year.
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 Hawaii, 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 who is a model-actress under the name Erin Lucas and Luke. His hobbies include fishing and amateur flying.
Cliff Williams was born on 14 December 1949 in Romford, 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 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 1966, 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 , 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. 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 27 May 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 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1982, Kerrang! readers voted him as Best Bassist of the year.
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 Hawaii, 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 who is a model-actress under the name Erin Lucas and Luke. His hobbies include fishing and amateur flying.