Any rock music fan can tell you that AC/DC really isn’t AC/DC anymore since Axl Rose was put on vocal duty after the retirement of Brian Johnson. A lot of fans would say that AC/DC hasn’t truly been AC/DC since the death of Bon Scott in 1980, but I digress. Now another band member of the “Back in Black” band has called it quits. Bassist Cliff Williams announced today that he will be retiring from the band after their current Rock or Bust tour making Williams the fourth band member to exit AC/DC in recent years.
Williams spoke about his soon-to-be retirement plans with Fort Myers’ Gulf Shore Life, stating that his retirement “is in part due to the changes the band has faced over the past few years.” Does that mean Axl? It probably does. Williams who has played with the band since 1977 was reflective in his response:
“It’s been what I’ve known for the past 40 years, but after this tour I’m backing off of touring and recording. 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.”
AC/DC’s guitarist Malcolm Young sadly stepped away from the band in 2014 due to his ongoing battle with dementia. That same year, drummer Phil Rudd left the band because of criminal charges pressed against him in New Zealand. Angus Young, still wearing his schoolboy uniform, is now the only remaining band member of AC/DC from their memorable 1980s lineup.
(Via Independent)
