Not my thing. I quite like some of Angus’ playing but the band and their music don’t appeal to me.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Does anyone like Cliff Williams?
- Thread starter kyral210
- Start date
You got two out of four right. Lots of money and no songwriting skills are accurate. But if you don’t think technical skills are needed for AC/DC, then you obviously never heard live boots with Mark Evans. To be dead on nearly 100% of the time the way he is sounds a lot easier than it is. Mark couldn’t do it. It’s not a virtuoso gig but you still need someone who’s really good to nail it at the level Cliff does. He and Colin Hodgkinson from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band were their two top choices and that’s because they were both really good.
And while he wasn’t exactly Angus up there, he and Malcolm had the coolest background singer move of all time, so it contributes to the presentation and counts as showmanship
Don't know the guy personally, don't know if he could play Portrait Of Tracy if he wanted to, don't even know what exactly his AC/DC lines are. It doesn't matter, either. He is a good example of serving your band and leaving your ego at the door.
love ac/dc, he serves the the songs as intended, like Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) and Ian Hill (Priest)...nothing flashy but deep n the pocket.
Exactly. People here are often making assumptions without listening what a particular player plays.You got two out of four right. Lots of money and no songwriting skills are accurate. But if you don’t think technical skills are needed for AC/DC, then you obviously never heard live boots with Mark Evans. To be dead on nearly 100% of the time the way he is sounds a lot easier than it is. Mark couldn’t do it. It’s not a virtuoso gig but you still need someone who’s really good to nail it at the level Cliff does. He and Colin Hodgkinson from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band were their two top choices and that’s because they were both really good.
And while he wasn’t exactly Angus up there, he and Malcolm had the coolest background singer move of all time, so it contributes to the presentation and counts as showmanship
A very good example is Kip Winger too who has very solid basslines on the first three Winger albums, or Duff McKagan but TBers can't be bothered listening them and making a conclusion after it.
It's easier to just go with the flow and say he sucks, without realizing that the opposite is the reality.
He's better-known than you and I will ever be, and I don't whine about other bass players. Neither do I hate someone I've never met.
I found both Cliff and AC/DC extremely boring and repetitive. But they and he gave the audience exactly what they wanted and what was needed for songs/albums to be successful.
And for that I respect them deeply.
And for that I respect them deeply.
What do I think?
It's a shame, but if we were to make a list of bass players that seem to be doing the bare minimum in every song, it would be a very very long list.
The fact that many of these bands have seriously made it seems to have no bearing.
When I've mentioned this sort of things to friends they dismiss it, claiming they listen to the songs as a whole & a boring bass arrangement shouldn't matter.
Similar to the O.P., I found AC/DC arrangement snooze-worthy, except a few of the really old ones where Cliff hadn't even joined the band yet.
It's a shame, but if we were to make a list of bass players that seem to be doing the bare minimum in every song, it would be a very very long list.
The fact that many of these bands have seriously made it seems to have no bearing.
When I've mentioned this sort of things to friends they dismiss it, claiming they listen to the songs as a whole & a boring bass arrangement shouldn't matter.
Similar to the O.P., I found AC/DC arrangement snooze-worthy, except a few of the really old ones where Cliff hadn't even joined the band yet.
I love his playing and I love acdc. If aliens abducted me and I had to explain rock n roll to them, back in black is one of the records I'd play for them.
A lot of talkbass would claim that they'd never lower themselves to play Cliffs baselines in stadiums around the world. They'd turn down the paycheck too.
Yea, for sure.
And a lot of them forget that he (or sub any famous bassist who enjoy general hatred here) had to write those bass lines.I'd die to listen some of these virtuouso's own version and what is lacking in these songs in their opinion. Slap, shred or overplay an AC/DC?
Last edited:
Funny that Cliff's first three almbus with AC/DC has the finest AC/DC bass lines. The bass on the full Back In Black album is golden from start to finish.
People just can't be bothered listening tonthe bass.
Does what bass players are supposed to do, IMHO. The Australian Dusty Hill.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,795
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
love Cliff. guy holds the foundation like its nobody's business. love that thumpy tone too. there's a reason why AC/DC is one of the biggest bands of all time
There is a reason, & Cliff is not it.
That statement just enforces what I've already claimed.
He’s not on my favorites list but I can recognize he is / was the ideal employee; do exactly what’s in the job description, do it in time, don’t embellish, & don’t make mistakes. He checked every box.
He has plenty of other skills (See Elliott Randall vids), but those skills weren’t needed in AC/DC.
The skills he did display are perhaps the most difficult to master and obviously are under appreciated by many; keep it straight without mistakes or timing drift.
He has plenty of other skills (See Elliott Randall vids), but those skills weren’t needed in AC/DC.
The skills he did display are perhaps the most difficult to master and obviously are under appreciated by many; keep it straight without mistakes or timing drift.
Last edited:
D
The band I was in got great responses to covers of AC/DC, people love it. I wonder if Bassist's who dislike his playing could "hold it down" with timing, and feel needed. Its why country music, while not for me, is hard to play correctly. Also, listen to the early Beatles stuff. Hofner, very simple, but cool, basslines. Do we hate the sound of that too?
D
Exactly! Timing is just about everything for us isn't it?. I have been lucky, for some reason, because my timing is good with little effort. I do practice "easy" songs for that reason. A lot of factors in "simple" playing. Perhaps inexperience is talking here from the OP. It will come to them.
my favorite classic rock band of all time. their music hits me in the happy spots.
you know them as soon as you hear them. the way the drums can be a straight driving beat, and the guitar is handling all the pushes, and the bassist makes it hold together is not an easy task. the more i dissect their music, the more I respect them as a band.
you know them as soon as you hear them. the way the drums can be a straight driving beat, and the guitar is handling all the pushes, and the bassist makes it hold together is not an easy task. the more i dissect their music, the more I respect them as a band.
I loved playin ACDC songs in my cover/party band. Stuff wasnt too hard to play, or remember, gives mt lots of time for my sweet moves.
Heck, I would play acdc all the time for his loot. ($100 Million, as I understand it).
T$
Heck, I would play acdc all the time for his loot. ($100 Million, as I understand it).
T$
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
Post a funnier picture than the one above - Parallel Universe Edition
- Latest: BassicJazzy