The British music scene is mourning the loss of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the legendary bassist for the Stone Roses and Primal Scream, who has died at the age of 63. His distinctive, groove-heavy playing was the secret weapon that transformed indie music, teaching a generation of alternative fans how to dance.
The Meteoric Rise of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses' ascent to fame was nothing short of meteoric. At the beginning of 1989, they were primarily a Manchester sensation, largely overlooked by national radio and the music press. Their single 'Elephant Stone' had garnered little attention, and they struggled to fill smaller London venues like Dingwalls. Yet, by November of that same year, they had become a national phenomenon. Their single 'Fools Gold' entered the charts at number 8, and their performance was the standout moment on that week's Top of the Pops – a rare achievement for an indie band in the late 80s.
While their iconic look and defiant attitude set them apart, along with John Squire's virtuosic guitar work, it was the rhythm section that truly distinguished them. The combination of Alan 'Reni' Wren's drums and Mani's bass created a swing that was utterly unique in British alternative rock at the time.
The Secret Sauce: Funk and Northern Soul
Unlike many of his indie contemporaries, Mani's musical foundation was built on 'good northern soul and funk'. This influence was the 'secret sauce' behind the Stone Roses' groundbreaking self-titled debut album. It was his fluid, melodic bass lines that drove the epic shift in 'I Am the Resurrection' from a Motown stomp into loose-limbed funk and gave 'Waterfall' its irresistible bounce.
Sometimes, his contribution was front and centre. On the iconic 'Fools Gold', the track's focal point isn't the vocal or the guitar, but Mani's writhing, relentless bassline. Similarly, the most memorable element of 'She Bangs the Drums' is often the bass.
Mani himself believed that the band's musical missteps occurred when they moved away from this groove. He felt the follow-up to 'Fools Gold', 'One Love', was underwhelming because it was "a little bit rigid". While he defended their second album, 'Second Coming', he suggested its flaws could have been fixed by stripping back the layered guitars and "reverting to the groove". The album's highlights, like 'Begging You' and 'Love Spreads', invariably feature Mani's bass taking the lead.
A New Groove with Primal Scream and a Lasting Legacy
After the Stone Roses imploded following a disastrous 1996 Reading Festival set, Mani joined Primal Scream, galvanising a band in a creative slump. His sound became heavier and more distorted, but the essential swing remained. Tracks like 'Kowalski' and the magnificent 'Swastika Eyes' from the 1999 album 'Xtrmntr' placed his hypnotic, popping basslines squarely at the forefront.
Known for his affable nature, Mani was the jovial counterpoint to the Stone Roses' media hauteur. The band's 2012 reunion, while commercially successful, failed to produce new music that captured their original magic. Mani announced his retirement in 2021, turning his attention to fly-fishing and, as he put it, "a good excuse to go to the pub".
His impact, however, was indelible. The Stone Roses' success triggered a rhythmic shift in UK guitar music, inspiring countless bands to make their audiences dance. Mani's raison d'être was the groove. As he once stated, "It's what the bass and drums are for, aren't they? That's what they're for."
