The bassist and backing vocalist of AC/DC, Cliff Williams has recalled the times when Axl Rose fronted the band in the middle of ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour, when Brian Johnson left because of hearing problems, and disclosed what he really thinks about Rose.

During the latest conversation he made with Dean Delray on ‘Let There Be Talk’ podcast, the veteran bass guitarist, Cliff Williams, has spoken about the grand comeback of AC/DC with their upcoming album, ‘Power Up,’ and his retirement from the band years ago.

As you may remember, on 30 September 2020, the phenomenal band officially announced the return of Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, and Cliff Williams, alongside Angus and Stevie Young, reuniting the ‘Rock or Bust’ recording line-up.

Soon after, on 7 October 2020, AC/DC confirmed the upcoming release on 13 November 2020 of their new studio album, ‘Power Up,’ and released the first single taken from it, ‘Shot in the Dark.’

When Cliff Williams was asked in the latest interview he gave if he departed from the band at the end of their 2015-2016 ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour since the vocalist Brian Johnson had left, he said that he just felt it was time to hang it up.

Williams continued and said he knew that he didn’t want to keep doing these two-year tours, and he didn’t want to hold them back, so he made his bandmates aware of the fact that this was going to be his last go-round.

Also, he detailed the last tour he took part in with AC/DC a little bit and said God bless Axl Rose for coming in and helping them out as Johnson had to deal with his hearing issues. Cliff Williams praised Rose by saying he did a great job.

Here’s what Cliff Williams said when asked if Johnson’s departure from the road was what led to his desire to stop touring:

“It was before then. I spoke to Angus Young about it initially. I was at a point — and this is at the beginning of the ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour — that I just felt, for me, it was time to hang it up.

I knew that I didn’t wanna keep doing these two-year tours, and I didn’t wanna hold them back, so I made them aware of the fact that this was gonna be my last go-round. It was a tough tour to finish.

God bless Axl for coming in and helping us out, finish it up. He did a great job. And at the end of that, I was definitely, that was it for me. Done, just done. That compounded the whole thing.”

You can check out the rest of the conversation below.