Music World Mourns Loss of Indie Rock Legend
The British music scene is in mourning following the death of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the acclaimed bassist for The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, at age 63. His former bandmate Ian Brown confirmed the tragic news on social media platform X on Thursday 20 November 2025.
Tributes Pour In From Music Icons
Brown's simple but heartfelt post read "rest in peace Mani" accompanied by a kiss emoji. The announcement prompted an immediate outpouring of grief from across the music industry. Tim Burgess, frontman of The Charlatans, shared a touching photograph of himself with Mani, describing his friend as "one of the absolute best in every way".
Liam Gallagher of Oasis, whose band frequently cited The Stone Roses as a major influence, expressed his devastation on X. The rock star declared himself in "total shock" and described Mani as "my hero", highlighting the bassist's profound impact on subsequent generations of musicians.
Defining the Manchester Sound
Mounfield formed part of The Stone Roses' classic line-up alongside singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire and drummer Alan 'Reni' Wren. His prowling basslines became the foundation for the Manchester band's seminal 1989 self-titled debut album, featuring iconic tracks like I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs The Drums and I Am The Resurrection.
After contributing to their harder-rocking 1994 follow-up Second Coming, Mani joined Scottish rock band Primal Scream following The Stone Roses' 1996 breakup. His bass playing became a key component of their krautrock-influenced lead single Kowalski from the 1997 album Vanishing Point.
The musician recorded four additional albums with Primal Scream, including their electro-punk masterpiece XTRMNTR in 2000, before leaving in 2011 to reunite with The Stone Roses.
Lasting Legacy and Personal Life
The reunited Stone Roses embarked on a global tour from 2012-2013 and recorded comeback singles All For One and Beautiful Thing in 2016. Their final performance featuring the classic line-up took place at Glasgow's Hampden Park, where Brown told fans: "Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened."
Beyond his musical achievements, Mani was a passionate Manchester United supporter and made a guest appearance in the film 24 Hour Party People (2002). He was married to his late wife Imelda, whom he met during the recording of Second Coming at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and they had two sons together.
Both The Stone Roses and Primal Scream posted official tributes to their former bandmate, while Manchester United FC acknowledged the passing of their "passionate, lifelong Red". The bass player had been scheduled to begin a speaking tour in September 2026 titled The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, And Me, reflecting on his remarkable life in rock and roll.
