• 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.

Why Cliff Williams = Genius

#22
62Jazzbass said:
How's your bass career compared to his?
Click to expand...

Never said he didnt like the guy. He seems nice, and while I agree that AC/DC's music doesnt require much, I havent seen Cliff ever compose anything amazing outside of AC/DC, is all.

He may be a better player than we all think he is, who knows.

I would love to play on a stage with Cliff.
And his playing isnt necessarily a bad thing, if it's what the song requires. I think alot of players like Cliff, Gene Simmons, and even Dee Dee Ramone don't get anywhere near the credit they deserve.
 
#25
62Jazzbass said:
Dude, if that's what you are into, that's great.

But I think we are talking rock music here.

AC/DC....they are a rock band. Right?

Just checking.

If somebody want's to play Back on the bass, great, whatever turns you on.
HTML: 
But I'm not tossing that CD on in my car and crankin' it up.
Sheesh.
Click to expand...

Why not? I am not embarrassed about any music I listen to nor should anybody. Open your ears and open your mind to other music and you might be surprised. From Bach to rock...it's is all still music!
 
#26
I can't give an opinion on Cliff because I really can't stand AC/DC's music in general, the whole package is just boring. Maybe if the bass did move around a bit more it would interest me a bit.

I don't really see the point of having the bass stick to the roots, isn't that more of a rhythm guitar job? The bass adds a groove, something to make the song flow, root 8th notes just make things stagnant in my opinion, they don't really serve a purpose.
 
#27
Bach versus Cliff Williams. I think you should try some drugs. I would advocate some weed, then work up to LSD. I think Cliff's greatness would hit you then. You know, your hair looks kinda like those wigs that Bach wore. Coincidence?
 
#29
don't make the mistake of thinking that cliff's parts are easy because they're simple. try playing the bass to sin city right after the guitar solo for 2 minutes like he does during shows without adding extraneous notes or missing the beat. try playing back in black without rushing it. whole different ballgame when you're up there playing it as opposed to listening to them play it. that's why mark evans didn't last and cliff did. listen to early concert footage with him on bass. not great. george young played bass on half the early stuff because mark couldn't.

hard to say what else cliff can do on bass. the ac/dc sound was already set in stone, and he rolls with it. and malcolm hates side projects. but he's a way better bassist than he's given credit for imho. he's not going to impress you at namm shows with his killer chops, but i know a lot of guys with killer chops who can't do what cliff does.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr Gero and JMacBass65
#33
Gawd said:
I can't give an opinion on Cliff because I really can't stand AC/DC's music in general, the whole package is just boring. Maybe if the bass did move around a bit more it would interest me a bit.

I don't really see the point of having the bass stick to the roots, isn't that more of a rhythm guitar job? The bass adds a groove, something to make the song flow, root 8th notes just make things stagnant in my opinion, they don't really serve a purpose.
Click to expand...

I can agree somewhat with what you say. Not everybody likes AC/DC or expects you to, nor does everybody like all the music you or I listen to.

I'm an AC/DC fan. I don't regard them as accomplished musicians or virtuoso's. I listen to other music for that. But I do like simpler sounding music too and AC/DC is basically a 3 chord rock band.

In the context of their music, Cliffs bass playing maybe limited, but it sounds good and to many of us it's what the song calls for. I really wouldn't want to hear a bass player doing much more than what cliff is doing anyway, that would be overplaying for what the song needs.

One of Cliff Williams influences was James Jamerson. Although there is no comparison in style between the two, both players usually played what the song needs and outlined the chords with a rhythm that fit the melody.
When you listen to a classic Jamerson bass track like the song "My Girl" you don't here a bunch of licks and such, you just hear a relatively simple bassline that outlines the chords played with that Jamerson touch that is difficult to duplicate. Would you really like to hear a slap and tap bassist fill in every nook and cranny in that song?

I believe the same anaolgy applies with playing the bass in a band like AC/DC and Cliff Williams is the Ideal bassist for that band.
 
#34
Greevus said:
Bach versus Cliff Williams. I think you should try some drugs. I would advocate some weed, then work up to LSD. I think Cliff's greatness would hit you then. You know, your hair looks kinda like those wigs that Bach wore. Coincidence?
Click to expand...

well here is greevus making a jerk out of himself again. He can't say anything intelligent so he has to resort to childish trolling tactics to get attention.
 
#35
Oh four string burner. Lighten up a little. I am just having some fun. I think if you go back and read your own posts, you seem to jump in with the asinine comparisons. I mean, come on man. Bach and Cliff Williams? I mean why not go carts vs the International Space Station? They are both motorized right? Rock music is REBELLION. That means rebelling against that entire "I'm a learned sight reading composer" mindset. That AIN'T rock n roll. Should be obvious. Cliff Williams freaking rocks balls. How intelligent can that be said? I think too much intellect goes against the entire AC/DC ethic. Life is more than your intellect. What about the emotion and sheer power of AC/DC? I think Cliff's driving, rock solid playing makes it as powerful as can be done. Same for Priest, Accept, Scorpions, etc. Truffles may be great, but so are M&Ms. Frank Zappa said he loved Motorhead because it was like "fast food music" and sometimes he was in a hurry.
 
#36
Greevus said:
Oh four string burner. Lighten up a little. I am just having some fun. I think if go back and read your own posts, you seem to jump in with the asinine comparisons. I mean, come on man. Bach and Cliff Williams? I mean why not go carts vs the International Space Station? They are both motorized right? Rock music is REBELLION. That means rebelling against that entire "I'm a learned sight reading composer" mindset. That AIN'T rock n roll. Should be obvious. Cliff Williams freaking rocks balls. How intelligent can that be said? I think too much intellect goes against the entire AC/DC ethic. Life is more than your intellect. What about the emotion and sheer power of AC/DC? I think Cliff's driving, rock solid playing makes it power as can be done. Same for Priest, Accept, Scorpions, etc. Truffles may be great, but so are M&Ms. Frank Zappa said he loved Motorhead because it was like "fast food music" and sometimes he was in a hurry.
Click to expand...

Your problem is yourself. You only read what you want to read and pic-a-part quotes and replies out of context and spin it around to serve your purpose. That's asinine!
 
#37
fourstringburn said:
I can agree somewhat with what you say. Not everybody likes AC/DC or expects you to, nor does everybody like all the music you or I listen to.

I'm an AC/DC fan. I don't regard them as accomplished musicians or virtuoso's. I listen to other music for that. But I do like simpler sounding music too and AC/DC is basically a 3 chord rock band.

In the context of their music, Cliffs bass playing maybe limited, but it sounds good and to many of us it's what the song calls for. I really wouldn't want to hear a bass player doing much more than what cliff is doing anyway, that would be overplaying for what the song needs.

One of Cliff Williams influences was James Jamerson. Although there is no comparison in style between the two, both players usually played what the song needs and outlined the chords with a rhythm that fit the melody.
When you listen to a classic Jamerson bass track like the song "My Girl" you don't here a bunch of licks and such, you just hear a relatively simple bassline that outlines the chords played with that Jamerson touch that is difficult to duplicate. Would you really like to hear a slap and tap bassist fill in every nook and cranny in that song?

I believe the same anaolgy applies with playing the bass in a band like AC/DC and Cliff Williams is the Ideal bassist for that band.
Click to expand...

I just checked out an AC/DC song and I agree with you.
Like I said, I think the root/8th note thing is more of the rhythm guitarists job, but considering that they lack a rhythm guitarist it makes more sense for the bass to cover that territory.
But I wasn't thinking anything slap bass. I don't think the bass should be overly busy, it should just help the song move a bit.

Also, after listen to some AC/DC, I still don't really dig them. But I realized why, it's the drums.
 
#38
Stingray19 said:
Never said he didnt like the guy. He seems nice, and while I agree that AC/DC's music doesnt require much, I havent seen Cliff ever compose anything amazing outside of AC/DC, is all.

He may be a better player than we all think he is, who knows.

I would love to play on a stage with Cliff.
And his playing isnt necessarily a bad thing, if it's what the song requires. I think alot of players like Cliff, Gene Simmons, and even Dee Dee Ramone don't get anywhere near the credit they deserve.
Click to expand...

DEE DEE!!!

Been messing around with "Chinese Rocks" and "53rd and 3rd" this weekend getting back to my early days of playing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back