After hinting at his retirement earlier in the summer, longtime AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams has officially confirmed he's splitting from the Aussie rockers after wrapping their current tour.
Williams's decision arrived in a video note, where he explained that, following a nearly 40-year run with the band, he's opting to take his leave. There's no big drama behind his decision, noting that AC/DC's recent series of personnel shifts did not influence his decision. Rather, he's just "ready to get off the road."
"It's time for me to step out, and that's all. Not because we've lost Mal, Phil or Brian," he said. "I mean, everything changes when something happens like that. When Bon [Scott] died, it changed then. You know, everything changes, so it's not that. It's just… I'm just ready to get off the road, really, and do what I do."
The bassist added that he's looking forward to focusing his off-time on his family, adding that he's ready to "chill out." You'll find his formal farewell down below.
Williams joined the band in 1977, making his studio debut on that year's Powerage album. He's been with the band for albums like the Bon Scott-sung Highway to Hell, 1980's Brian Johnson-fronted Back in Black and 2014's Rock or Bust.
Williams's retirement follows founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young's departure from the band because of dementia, the exit of drummer Phil Rudd due to charges related to a murder plot and drug possession, and the well-publicized departure of longtime singer Brian Johnson.
AC/DC's current live schedule only features one date, tonight (September 20) at Philadelphia, PA's Wells Fargo Center.
Williams's decision arrived in a video note, where he explained that, following a nearly 40-year run with the band, he's opting to take his leave. There's no big drama behind his decision, noting that AC/DC's recent series of personnel shifts did not influence his decision. Rather, he's just "ready to get off the road."
"It's time for me to step out, and that's all. Not because we've lost Mal, Phil or Brian," he said. "I mean, everything changes when something happens like that. When Bon [Scott] died, it changed then. You know, everything changes, so it's not that. It's just… I'm just ready to get off the road, really, and do what I do."
The bassist added that he's looking forward to focusing his off-time on his family, adding that he's ready to "chill out." You'll find his formal farewell down below.
Williams joined the band in 1977, making his studio debut on that year's Powerage album. He's been with the band for albums like the Bon Scott-sung Highway to Hell, 1980's Brian Johnson-fronted Back in Black and 2014's Rock or Bust.
Williams's retirement follows founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young's departure from the band because of dementia, the exit of drummer Phil Rudd due to charges related to a murder plot and drug possession, and the well-publicized departure of longtime singer Brian Johnson.
AC/DC's current live schedule only features one date, tonight (September 20) at Philadelphia, PA's Wells Fargo Center.
