Why Cliff Williams = Genius

[Toadsmacker]

Hello everybody, I just thought I'd share my views on AC/DC's Bassist, Cliff Williams.

I know what most of you are thinking: "He plays the root note in time with the drums."

...which is not always the case.

AC/DC's newest album, Black Ice, showcases some of Cliff's astonishing ability. He's heavily influenced by blues, and on the album, he sometimes reminds me of Geezer Butler with his bluesy little fills. Not just Black Ice though, he sneaks little runs in all over the place in tons of other tracks (I encourage you all to select "Bass Booster" on your iPod EQ settings to hear them)

Head over to Youtube and watch "High Voltage" and "For Those About to Rock" Live at Donington. You will think differently of him. However, I believe that the best representation of Cliff's true ability comes in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTWOVU20aoc

Cliff never ceases to amaze me, I was even fortunate enough to hear his skills live in 2009. It is unfortunate that he is put down because of his rhythm-keeping. Keeping the rhythm is half the battle for a bassist, folks!

The purpose of this thread is to elimate his stereotype. Listen closely, Cliff is a rock n' roll machine.

[Basshappi]

It is my understanding that he is actually a far better bassplayer than his role in AC/DC would lead most to believe. This would not surprise me, after all his sole profession for a couple of decades has been to get up every morning and play bass.

[lowfreq33]

He also knows just the right time to play the 3rd instead of the root.

[GeezerDeacon69]

"He plays the root note in time with the drums."

Nothing wrong with that, if it works.



"Keeping the rhythm is half the battle for a bassist, folks!"

Amen!

Great post! Glad to someone givin' the love to Cliff.

[62Jazzbass]

+1

Love his playing.

Wooten would be a bad fit for AC/DC.

[Surly]

Awesome band

[fourstringburn]

A genius? what makes him a genius? I love AC/DC and I enjoy listening to Cliffs simple and solid good sounding bass lines. Highway to Hell has still been my personal favorite AC/DC album for over 30 years now. But let's put it into perspective. He doesn't read a single note of music, never composed anything that would be deemed artistically worthy. Past musical genius's would be like Bach,and Beethoven, to more modern accomplished jazz artists like Stanley Clarke, Jaco ,Victor Wooten, and rockers like Steve Vai and Satriani and many others. I understand how much you like his playing, but would you really think he deserves the title of genius considering all the great musicians in the world today who most are unheard of and probably starving?

[Noseferatu]

Originally Posted by fourstringburn

A genius? what makes him a genius? I love AC/DC and I enjoy listening to Cliffs simple and solid good sounding bass lines. Highway to Hell has still been my personal favorite AC/DC album for over 30 years now. But let's put it into perspective. He doesn't read a single note of music, never composed anything that would be deemed artistically worthy. Past musical genius's would be like Bach,and Beethoven, to more modern accomplished jazz artists like Stanley Clarke, Jaco ,Victor Wooten, and rockers like Steve Vai and Satriani and many others. I understand how much you like his playing, but would you really think he deserves the title of genius considering all the great musicians in the world today who most are unheard of and probably starving?

+1 to this.

I really don't think he even deserves the prefix "great" IMO.


Shoot To Thrill has a cool little ditty though.

[Toadsmacker]

Originally Posted by fourstringburn

A genius? what makes him a genius? I love AC/DC and I enjoy listening to Cliffs simple and solid good sounding bass lines. Highway to Hell has still been my personal favorite AC/DC album for over 30 years now. But let's put it into perspective. He doesn't read a single note of music, never composed anything that would be deemed artistically worthy. Past musical genius's would be like Bach,and Beethoven, to more modern accomplished jazz artists like Stanley Clarke, Jaco ,Victor Wooten, and rockers like Steve Vai and Satriani and many others. I understand how much you like his playing, but would you really think he deserves the title of genius considering all the great musicians in the world today who most are unheard of and probably starving?

I have to agree with you, even though I made that title. I apologize, it took me more time to think of a title for this thread than it took to write my speech. (I suck at naming things!) Let's replace the word "genius" with "clever." Cliff williams is "clever" when it comes to playing groovy basslines.

[fourstringburn]

Try interpreting a Bach piece on bass, Who has been well regarded as a musical genius for centuries,that is if you can read music, if not, try it by ear. There are many recordings on you tube you can hear. Peferably, try Chromatic Fantasy. Then compare that to Cliffs invented bass line and you tell me which defines the level of genius.

[fourstringburn]

Cliff Williams rocks.......I would like to hear him sit in with a different band just to hear him from a different perspective, wouldn't that be interesting?

[Toadsmacker]

@ fourstringburn:

That "Chromatic Fantasy" is something quite amazing. I can see what you mean by genius. My mistake!

You wanted to hear Cliff playing in another band:
Cliff is in a band called "Classic Rock Cares" along with Brian Johnson of AC/DC, and they do shows for hurricane relief funding, I believe. Anyway, they wrote a song for a movie soundtrack called "Who Phoned The Law" which has some extremely groovy bass playing in it.

[fourstringburn]

Thanks for the tip. I checked out some youtube vids on Classic Rock Cares and I saw a clip of the song you mentioned. Pretty cool, kinda has a '70's Joe Walsh sound to it. Cliff has recorded in a previous band before AC/DC called Home, but those albums are out of print. I think those would be a good find to hear his style back then.

[levis76]

Many would argue that Cliff's basslines are simple and therefore inferior. I say the guy found an easy way to make a whole mess of cash!! Good for him!

[Gnosticbass]

Cliff Williams is one of the reasons I play bass guitar.

[dogbass]

I have this debate with my drummer all the time. (He's an AC/DC hardcore fan. ) I appreciate Cliff Williams contribution to AC/DC and he definitely provides a solid foundation. But if aspired to play every Cliff Williams riff cold... and could nail his sense of rhythm and timing, and even if I was able write "clever" fills, I would more than likely be exactly where I am today - in decent cover bands. Point is, unless you're attached to a band that makes it big, playing solid, clever bass lines probably isn't quite enough to make a living at this. I don't think he's inferior at all...but I do think he's a lucky SOB !

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by 62Jazzbass

+1

Love his playing.

Wooten would be a bad fit for AC/DC.

i wouldn't say that wooten would be a bad fit, but i would say that any bass player worth his weight in salt and musical sense wouldn't play more than Cliff plays

[A.K.]

Cliff is one of my absolute all-time favorites. If you appreciate stone cold pocket playing, regardless of the level of complexity, then you have to give Cliff some love.

Plus, playing AC/DC songs for 2.5 hours per night requires concentration and stamina. I have been the drummer and the bassist in an AC/DC cover band, and both Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams have right wrists of steel.

AK

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Noseferatu

+1 to this.

I really don't think he even deserves the prefix "great" IMO.


Shoot To Thrill has a cool little ditty though.

How's your bass career compared to his?

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

i wouldn't say that wooten would be a bad fit, but i would say that any bass player worth his weight in salt and musical sense wouldn't play more than Cliff plays

That was brilliant.

Couldn't agree more.