Cliff Williams of AC/DC (Live, 1983)

A.K. · #1 01-20-2010, 05:50 PM

I love me some AC/DC. I have been both the drummer and the bassist in an AC/DC cover band. Cliff might play simple lines, but he's solid as a rock, always plays deep in the groove, and he has a great bass tone. And he's a good backup singer, too. He is to the bass what Phil Rudd is to the drums.

Here are some classic Cliff clips from the 1983 "Flick of the Switch" tour. Easily one of AC/DC's most underrated albums--FOTS is full of great songs.

I know there are lots of Cliff fans out there. Give 'im some love!

AK

FOTS/Bedlam in Belgium:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTba1...eature=related

Guns for Hire (rehearsal):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQdbt...eature=related

This House is On Fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSI3JfSFkgo

PBass101 · #2 01-20-2010, 05:55 PM

I love AC/DC. Saw them last August and it was fantastic. Loud as hell and - my God - I could actually hear the bass guitar, because the kick drum wasn't overpoweringly loud! Hooray!

jellymax · #3 01-20-2010, 06:01 PM

with modern sound systems, i am sure the bass comes out killin at their shows! i too, play some AC/DC
covers in my classic rock band---Cliff rocks!

JimmyM · #4 01-20-2010, 07:19 PM

love me some cliff, but damn, i can't believe he used to play a steinberger!

A.K. · #5 01-20-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

love me some cliff, but damn, i can't believe he used to play a steinberger!

LOL. Yeah, thank God his Steinberger phase was a short one.

AK

JimmyM · #6 01-20-2010, 08:14 PM

i wish the simon wright era would have been just as short

great drummer, never liked him in acdc. chris slade rocked, though. but phil is the man. i heard he and malcolm got in a fistfight before he got canned, too, which makes him the man!

A.K. · #7 01-20-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i wish the simon wright era would have been just as short

great drummer, never liked him in acdc. chris slade rocked, though. but phil is the man. i heard he and malcolm got in a fistfight before he got canned, too, which makes him the man!

That's funny, because I prefer Simon to Chris. "Fly on the Wall" wasn't a great album, but I love "Blow Up Your Video" and Simon brought some interesting things to it. The hi-hat stuff on "That's the Way I Wanna Rock 'n Roll" and on "Nick of Time" and the little syncopated interlude on "Go Zone" are great. Plus, I love "This Means War" and "Heatseeker."

Yes, Phil did get into a physical altercation with Malcolm in the Bahamas in 1983. Apparently Phil had gone waterskiing with one of Malcolm's family members, and he acted like an ******* and someone got hurt as a result. When Malcolm confronted Phil, it got physical. Then again, Malcolm was a full-blown drunk at the time.

AK

PBass101 · #8 01-21-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i wish the simon wright era would have been just as short

great drummer, never liked him in acdc. chris slade rocked, though. but phil is the man. i heard he and malcolm got in a fistfight before he got canned, too, which makes him the man!

I heard Phil started abusing drugs after Bon died, and that Malcolm kicked his ass in that particular fight.

stuonbass · #9 01-21-2010, 09:40 AM

Metal bass 101 right there. Learn it, live it, love it.

JimmyM · #10 01-21-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBass101

I heard Phil started abusing drugs after Bon died, and that Malcolm kicked his ass in that particular fight.

i have heard stories about the young brothers in their early days, and even though they're tiny little guys, they could kick some ass and were completely fearless.

i've heard the drug stories about phil, but i also hear he owned a helicopter charter business while on hiatus. flying copters and drugs usually don't mix very well.

sweetwillyp · #11 01-21-2010, 11:24 AM

I Just Loved Those Vids.
It is Cool to see AC/DC in Rehearsals and They Still are so Intense Sounding..I have been to a Few Live AC/DC shows and They have always Rocked The House.

And The Cliff Williams Steinberger thing..I am also Glad that Cliff and Geddy Both Got out of that Phase

Hamrhed · #12 01-21-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

great drummer, never liked him in acdc. chris slade rocked, though. but phil is the man

I agree... Simon surprised me at his ability w/ Dio- but Rudd and Slade I like better. Slade is a wildman who was fun to watch (great w/ The Firm also), but Phil is just the rock-solid perfect fit for AC/DC

grimniggzy · #13 01-21-2010, 11:52 AM

Always deep in the groove. Does exactly what is needed to compliment his band. Love it.

JimmyM · #14 01-21-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimniggzy

Always deep in the groove. Does exactly what is needed to compliment his band. Love it.

glad you mentioned this...i recently heard living colour's cover of "back in black," and i thought it was awful. doug wimbish is constantly pulling the tempo and it sounds rushed and forced. cliffy is nice and relaxed and knows how to lay back to keep it from sounding rushed. anyone who thinks cliff is a bonehead bassist needs to listen to LC's version.

etechstan · #15 01-21-2010, 12:41 PM

Wait a minute, doesn't he just play roots, where are the flamers?

EdHunter · #16 01-21-2010, 01:21 PM

Love his 'lines on "Let There be Rock" and "Fire Your Guns". Really fast, really solid stuff.

JimmyM · #17 01-21-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

Wait a minute, doesn't he just play roots, where are the flamers?

that's actually a myth. he's not blazing fast, but he does more than play the root when it works for the song.

etechstan · #18 01-22-2010, 09:16 AM

No, I'm pretty sure he's just a root player. Where are the flamers? Personally, a driving root based bass line can really make a song but certain TBers expect the bassist to whank throughout the songs.

Hamrhed · #19 01-22-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etechstan

No, I'm pretty sure he's just a root player

No- you are wrong, sir. If you listen to songs like Back in Black or Big Gun, you will find much more going on than 'playing the root' as you put it. In fact, that can be said on much of the stuff that Cliff plays- he is a groove seminar and his hooks are subtle- the best kind imo...

Just because he plays whats best for the band doesnt diminish his contribution- and he definitely has more going on than 'root playing' if you dig beneath the surface

varunkapahi · #20 01-22-2010, 02:55 PM

i like him. i wouldnt personally really if i had to lay down the bass on all those ac/dc records. am sure i'd have tried to play more than i should with that kinda of songs and thus making them stink