AC/DC’s Cliff Williams is to retire after their ‘Rock or Bust World Tour’.
The ‘Thunderstruck’ group’s bassist has decided to step away from touring and recording music when their current run of shows come to an end on September 20 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, because the band has become a "changed animal" over the years due to the loss of his old bandmates, Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd and Brian Johnson.
On his decision to step down, Cliff, 66, told Gulfshore Life: "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."
In 2014, co-founder Malcolm stepped down from the band due to suffering from severe dementia and former drummer Phil – who was replaced by Chris Slade – was put on house rest in 2015, after pleading not guilty on a threatening to kill charge.
And bad luck struck again earlier this year, when frontman Brian Johnson had to pull out of their tour or risk "total deafness" due to a hearing problem.
The 68-year-old vocalist was replaced by Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who will only play with AC/DC for their current tour.
Cliff joined the Australian heavy metal band in mid-1997 and his first album with them was 1978’s ‘Powerage’.
AC/DC’s Cliff Williams to retire after world tour
