Hundreds of mourners, including the biggest names in Manchester's music and football scenes, gathered at Manchester Cathedral on Monday to pay their final respects to Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream.
A Cathedral Filled with Stars and Grief
The service saw an extraordinary congregation come together to honour Mounfield, who died at his home in Stockport on 20 November at the age of 63. The iconic venue was packed with friends, family, and fans, while crowds also lined the streets outside.
Among the notable figures in attendance were music icons Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller, Peter Hook, Tim Burgess, and Bez. The world of football was represented by David Beckham and Gary Neville, alongside Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, underscoring Mounfield's deep connection to the city's culture.
Moving Tributes from Bandmates and Brothers
The emotional core of the service came from heartfelt eulogies by Mounfield's closest musical collaborators. Ian Brown, The Stone Roses' frontman, remembered his friend of 45 years as a "true musical comrade" and "always a beautiful soul and spirit."
"One thing we can all agree on is Mani was one of the greatest lads we ever met, one of the greatest men we ever knew. Lucky us," Brown told the congregation. He painted a picture of a man devoted to life's joys: "His family, his pals, fishing, football, United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clobber, town and all the usual gentlemanly pursuits."
Brown described the outpouring of affection since Mounfield's passing as a "tsunami of love," stating, "He loved everyone and everyone loves him … he was the life and soul of wherever he was." In a characteristically spirited moment, he called for a 50ft, solid gold statue to be erected in Manchester in Mani's memory, prompting cheers from the assembly.
A Final Journey for a Rock 'n' Roll Soul
The coffin, poignantly designed to resemble the cover of The Stone Roses' seminal first album, was carried from the cathedral by a procession of his closest friends and bandmates. The pallbearers were Ian Brown, Liam Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, John Squire, and Alan 'Reni' Wren.
Bobby Gillespie, frontman of Primal Scream—the band Mounfield joined in 1996—also paid a powerful tribute. He celebrated Mounfield's unique stage presence, calling him a "funky little mother, with a rock'n'roll heart" who "stalked the stage with the stealth of a panther, with the grace of a dancer."
Gillespie offered poignant words of comfort, saying, "Mani's not dead, he's just gone," and also paid tribute to Mani's late wife, Imelda, who died two years ago, describing them as an "amazing couple."
The Legacy of a Manchester Icon
The funeral marked the end for a musician who helped define the sound of a generation and the spirit of a city. Mounfield's recent announcement of a UK speaking tour, scheduled from September 2026 to June 2027, where he planned to reminisce about career highlights like the legendary 1990 Spike Island gig, is a poignant reminder of the stories now left untold.
As the service concluded, Ian Brown's words resonated with the collective feeling of loss: "Mani wouldn't want us to be broken-hearted. But we all are." The gathering at Manchester Cathedral proved that while the bassist may be gone, his rhythm, his laugh, and his indelible mark on music and his hometown will endure.
