AC/DC's Cliff Williams to retire from touring and recording after Rock or Bust Tour

The Romford born bassist, who joined the legendary Australian band in 1977, says that losing three core members - Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd – in rapid succession has affected his decision.

“It’s been what I’ve known for the past 40 years, but after this tour I’m backing off of touring and recording,” Cliff explained to Gulfshore Life. “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.”

His last scheduled show with AC/DC for now will be at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on 20th September.

66-year-old Cliff joined AC/DC shortly after Mark Evans was sacked due to musical differences and made his first album appearance on 1978’s ‘Powerage’.

Explaining his pride in being involved in some of AC/DC’s most successful moments, including 1980’s ‘Back In Black’, Williams added: “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.”

He’s currently the second longest serving member of the group behind founder Angus Young.

Speaking about his role in AC/DC this week, Williams said: "My role as part of the rhythm section is to give drive, to give foundation, and engine, if you like, and support the guitars.

"My first album with the band was 'Powerage', and that was 1977. It was all new and fresh, and these people, I didn't know them, and Australia, and I'm from London, and there was the whole fitting in thing. They were great — very accepting.

"They were very famous in Australia when I joined them. They'd pretty much gotten to the top of the heap there very quickly. And they'd been to Europe once or twice at that point too. But we were still touring on a modest basis. We were playing small venues with little equipment, with a little van, and we were all driving together in a station wagon and stuff. And that, over the years, has changed. Not to say it wasn't fun; it was a lot of fun."

AC/DC’s upcoming North American tour will once again feature Axl Rose on vocals.