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Tributes paid after death of Stone Roses icon Mani, age 63: “Going to miss you so much”

The bass hero had just announced an UK In Conversation tour

By Andrew Trendell
Mani (Gary Mounfield ) with The Stone Roses rehearsing in Manchester , United Kingdom, 1994. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)
Mani (Gary Mounfield ) bassist with The Stone Roses rehearsing in Manchester , United Kingdom, 1994. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)

Loving tributes have been paid after it was announced that legendary bassist Mani – of Stone Roses and formerly Primal Scream – has died, age 63.

Mani, real name Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, originally found fame as bassist for the Stone Roses, joining in 1987 and playing on both their iconic albums, until they first disbanded in 1996. He then went on to join Primal Scream and stayed with them until 2011, when the Stone Roses reformed.

Now, just over a week after announcing a UK-wide in conversation tour, his death has been confirmed by his brother, Greg.

“IT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SAD PASSING OF MY BROTHER GARY MANI MOUNFIELD,” he posted on social media, as Manchester Evening News reports. “RIP RKID.”

Since then, tributes have been coming in from across the music world.

Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown led the tributes with a simple: “REST IN PEACE MANi X”, while The Stone Roses also shared tribute from their official account, writing: “RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for.”

Primal Scream shared a picture tribute to Mani on Instagram, while the band’s bassist Simone Butler wrote: “Truly in shock at this. An incredible loss to everyone who knew and loved him. The moment u met Mani u loved him. The most brilliant and wickedly sharp sense of humour and the biggest heart and generosity. The smile in that first pics was so absolutely him. He called me his scorpio bass sister. My heart is breaking for his boys, family and loved ones. Was meant to see him tmro in Manchester.

“A terrible and sad loss. An amazing person, so so loved by everyone all over the world X just heartbreaking.”

New Order also paid tribute, writing: “We are really sorry and shocked to hear of the passing of Mani. He was a great guy, good fun and a father to two boys. Long may he live in the hearts and minds of all his family, friends and fans.”

Courteneers’ Liam Fray shared a similarly heartfelt tribute, writing: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Mani. This is what true sadness feels like. Everyone who knew you will miss you so much. Thank you for the good times, every one of them was a privilege. Thinking of all your family and friends. Rest in Peace Brother.”

Echo & The Bunnymen‘s Ian McCulloch added: “I’m absolutely gutted to hear the news about Mani, who I have always loved and always will love, deeply and forever. Like a brother. I am in shock to be honest. Please tell me I’m just having a bad, bad dream.”

“Going to miss you so much,” wrote former Happy Mondays singer Rowetta, as she also paid tribute to Mani’s late wife Imelda. “All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew and loved him.”

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess shared a touching memory along with a picture of them together, posting: “I shared this photo a week or so ago on Mani’s birthday. It never failed to bring a smile to my face – and that was exactly the same for the man himself. One of the absolute best in every way – such a beautiful friend Love you Mani x x Never to be forgotten.”

Liam Gallagher wrote that he was “in total shock” and “absolutely devastated”, Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder shared: “RIP Mani – my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family”, and Oasis guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs simply wrote: “RIP Mani. X”.

Meanwhile, journalist, musician and friend John Robb simply added: “RIP Mani – the soul of the Stone Roses”, and Rough Trade described the musician as “the perfect example of how a bassist can be the beating heart of a band”.

Oasis’ Tony McCarroll shared: “RIP Mani! Devastating news! See you up there mate!! Legend!!”, and Starsailor’s James Walsh wrote that he was “gutted to hear the news about Mani”. “Apart from being a legend and an unbelievable bassist he had an incredible knack of making everyone laugh & putting you at ease whenever you came across him,” he added. “True gent.”

Reverend & The Makers penned a touching tribute too, sharing on X: “My heart is broken. Found out this morning and just felt low as it gets all day. Mani was my musical hero and just a lovely genuine human. I’m a bit ill myself at the minute and not ashamed to say I shed at tear at the news. See on the next one mate. A true legend of the game.”

Other tributes have come in from The Farm, who described Mani as “a beautiful soul and a great friend”, adding that they were “all absolutely devastated” by the news, and from presenter Dave Sweetmore, who recalled talking to the late artist about his in conversation tour.

Richard Ashcroft added: “Mani was one of the loveliest positive musicians to spend time with he was a key element to the band that inspired me to believe I could do this music thing he had the style the swagger and the sound but most importantly a warm heart My condolences to Greg his sons and family. Rest in peace brother now burst into heaven!”

The Coral also payed tribute, sharing a picture of Mani and writing: “RIP Mani. The baselines that soundtracked our boyhood, and so much more.” They also shared a lyric from The Stone Roses Song, ‘Your Star Will Shine’.

The Happy Mondays shared their condolences too, writing “Mani, forever’ along with a picture of him with the Shaun Ryder and Bez. Mani’s football team, Manchester United, also paid tribute, writing: “A Manchester music icon and a passionate, lifelong Red. Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of Gary ‘Mani’ Mountfield.

Meanwhile Peter Hook wrote: “Oh god. Mani…words just fail me this time, they really do. I cannot believe it. Sending all my love to his family. This is so sad. RIP mate. Love Hooky. X”

Others leaving tributes included Smith’s legend Johnny Marr and Manchester band Elbow whose emotive tribute read: “Mani was our hero. Then he was our mate. He always used your name a lot when talking to you. One of the many things that made you glow when you’d been in his company. And he had the best stories because he forgot nothing. He never stopped being our hero. Never will.”

Others leaving tributes included Ocean Colour Scene, Shed Seven, John Power, Badly Drawn Boy and Kasabian. Check them all out here:

 

Mani was born in Crumpsall, Manchester on 16 November, 1962. He died nearly two years to the day of the passing of his wife Imelda, who died on November 18, 2023. The couple shared twin boys, Gene and George, 12, who were born in January 2013.

In 2016, The Stone Roses released two singles with ‘All For One‘ and ‘Beautiful Thing‘. They remained together for a few years, before disbanding once more in 2017 after the old tensions recurred.

It has now been 30 years since the Manchester legends released a record, with their last full-length LP ‘Second Coming’ dropping in 1994.

Mani. CREDIT: Darren Gerrish/Darren Gerrish/WireImage

In 2019, John Squire confirmed the reunion was over for good, telling The Guardian that the band had officially come to an end, and later that year Ian Brown released his seventh solo album ‘Ripples‘.

As for Primal Scream, they recently announced a one-off show in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their album ‘XTRMNTR’.

Elsewhere, it has been announced that Primal Scream will appear on the forthcoming Pet Shop Boys remix album ‘Disco 5’, alongside the likes of Noel Gallagher, Sleaford Mods and Paul Weller. The album is released on November 21 and you can pre-order it here.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more tributes and details. 

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