Will AC/DC have a new bassist other than Cliff Williams for their rumored 2024 touring?

The buzz has been heavy for some time now that AC/DC will be hitting the road in 2024, but according to industry insider and podcast host Dean Delray, Williams is not expected to be part of the upcoming dates.

Williams famously retired at the end of AC/DC’s “Rock or Bust” tour, which saw Axl Rose take over on vocals midway through after Brian Johnson’s hearing issues required addressing. But, Angus Young was able to lure back AC/DC’s core players including Williams for their 2020 Power Up album.

The band was unable to play shows in support at the time of the album’s release due to the pandemic, but finally returned to the stage last fall for the Power Trip festival in Indio, California. Williams appeared with the band for the one-off festival show, but if the rumors are true, he doesn’t plan to be part of their 2024 touring.

What Did Dean Delray Say About Cliff Williams?

Delray shared what he had heard about Williams through his Instagram account. In the post, he wrote, “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 year 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.”

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

Accompanying the post, Delray added audio of his previous chat with Williams. In it, they discuss that Williams had committed to doing only a few shows rather than a full tour. The bassist responded, “[It was] for my health. We all have our issues down the line. You know, so much as for me, I just can’t do that anymore.”

When asked if it was mental or physical health he was concerned with, the bassist responded, “I think both of them really. I definitely have some physical issues which I won’t bore you with the details, But yeah, I mean it’s tough. So I’m very grateful for everything. It’s been fantastic. But I just don’t want to do that anymore.”