In a recent update regarding AC/DC’s highly anticipated 2024 tour, comedian and avid fan of the band, Dean Delray, shared some noteworthy news. Delray, known for covering the band’s music and conducting interviews with its members, revealed that bassist Cliff Williams will not be part of the tour this year.

On January 27, he posted online:

“OK, last night I heard from a very reliable source that AC/DC will be touring with a new Bass Player this year. I’m not gonna say who it is. I’ll let AC/DC make that announcement, but I will say this: 3 years ago, I had Cliff Williams on my podcast, and he straight up said he would not be touring again, and I was surprised that the fans didn’t seem to pick up on that.”

Delray continued:

“I just want to take this time to thank Cliff for absolutely rocking us on the Bass for over 40 years. An absolute killer of Groove. I love you, brother.”

Cliff Williams had announced his retirement at the conclusion of the ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour in 2015-2016. This tour also witnessed a change in vocalists, with Brian Johnson departing due to hearing problems, and Axl Rose stepping in for the final 22 shows.

In a 2020 interview with Delray, Williams discussed the connection between his decision to step down and Johnson’s departure:

“It was before then. I spoke to Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] 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.”

Expressing his conclusion with touring, the bassist added:

“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.”