AC/DC Bassist Cliff Williams To Retire After Current Tour

Long-running AC/DC bass player Cliff Williams has revealed plans to retire after the band wraps their Rock Or Bust world tour.

Speaking to Gulfshore Lift, Williams said he would be “backing off of touring and recording” after 40 years in the band, going on to cite the departure of frontman Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and guitarist Malcolm Young in recent years as a deciding factor.

“Losing Malcolm, the thing with Phil and now with Brian, it’s a changed animal. I feel in my gut it’s the right thing,” Williams said.

“When you start out, you kind of hope for success…that’s what you are working for. But you never really know. It’s been surreal, really.”

The UK-born bassist joined AC/DC in 1977, following the departure of Mark Evans.

In less than two years, the band has now lost four key members, with founding guitarist Malcolm Young stepping down in 2014 with dementia, Rudd being caught up in legal battles, and vocalist Johnson “kicked to the curb” and replaced with Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose after suffering serious hearing issues.

AC/DC have a number of tour dates across the US throughout August and September, and are yet to respond to Williams’ comments.