The music world is in mourning following the tragic death of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the beloved bassist for The Stone Roses, at the age of 63.
Mani's passing comes as a devastating blow to his family and friends, occurring almost two years to the day after his wife, Imelda, lost her courageous fight with cancer. The couple's twin sons, Gene Clark and George Christopher, believed to be around 12 years old, are now orphaned.
A Tragic Timeline of Loss
Emergency services were called to Mani's private address on Thursday, but no patient was transported to hospital. At this time, no cause of death has been officially released.
This heartbreaking event echoes the family's previous loss. Imelda Mounfield died on November 18, 2023, at the age of 52, following a brave battle with stage four bowel cancer.
The couple, who had shared their joy at becoming parents in January 2013, faced Imelda's diagnosis with immense strength. In an emotional interview with ITV's Granada Reports in October 2022, Imelda revealed the shock of her illness, stating, "The tumour in my bowel had spread to my liver. It was a massive shock, because I wasn't really poorly."
A Family's Love and a Musician's Perspective
Mani himself spoke during that interview about the profound impact of his wife's illness, putting his legendary music career into stark perspective. He said, "One day you can be paranoid and flapping and very, very fearful about stuff and then the next day you can see she's putting in the effort, there's a pride in the fight of the lady."
He added a powerful sentiment that resonated with many: "Walking on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90 thousand people is a doddle compared to this... All these gigs, all these records, they don't mean a thing. It means nothing, as long as this lady's ok and my family's ok, everything else is superfluous."
The bassist first announced the birth of their twins on Imelda's social media, writing, "Mani here, we have had two gorgeous boys today, Gene Clark & George Christopher, many thanks for the well wishes, love n peace to all."
Tributes and a Lasting Legacy
In the wake of his death, a touching tribute from Mani's nephew appeared online, which read: "Unfortunately with sad news my uncle Gary Mani Mounfield from the stone roses has sadly passed away today. Thinking of his twins and my uncle Greg at this sad time. He will be reunited in heaven with his lovely wife Imelda."
The close-knit nature of Mani's family life was further highlighted by his former Stone Roses bandmate, John Squires, who after Imelda's funeral spoke of the bond between the two families. Squires noted, "Mani and his wife really doted on our girls when they were younger... They'd always shower the girls with gifts – Mani still chucks money at them."
As the news spreads, fans and fellow musicians are remembering Mani not only for his iconic basslines that defined the Madchester era with The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, but also as a devoted family man whose world revolved around his wife and children.
