The UK music scene is in mourning following the death of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the legendary bassist for The Stone Roses, at the age of 63. The sad news comes almost two years to the day after the passing of his wife, Imelda.
A Life in Music and Family
Mani, who hailed from Crumpsall in Manchester, rose to prominence after joining the iconic band The Stone Roses in the 1980s. He remained with the band until their initial split in 1996. Following this, he enjoyed a successful tenure with Primal Scream before a momentous career moment in 2011, when he announced his departure to reunite with The Stone Roses for their celebrated reformation.
Beyond the stage lights, Mani was a devoted family man. He and his wife Imelda were parents to twin boys, Gene and George, who were born in January 2013. The family faced a profound tragedy when Imelda, an events agent, died on November 18, 2023, at the age of 52 after a brave fight with bowel cancer.
A Courageous Battle and Heartfelt Tributes
Imelda was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in November 2020. In an emotional interview with ITV Granada Reports in October 2022, she shared her shock, revealing, "The tumour in my bowel had spread to my liver. It was a massive shock, because I wasn't really poorly."
Mani himself spoke openly about the immense personal challenge, stating that walking on stage at Wembley Stadium was "a doddle compared to this." He expressed a profound re-evaluation of his priorities, saying, "All these gigs, all these records, they don't mean a thing... as long as this lady's ok and my family's ok, everything else is superfluous." Imelda's funeral was attended by a host of famous faces from the music world, including Liam Gallagher and Shaun Ryder.
An Outpouring of Grief
The news of Mani's passing was broken by his brother, Greg, who posted a heartfelt message on Facebook: "IT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SAD PASSING OF MY BROTHER GARY MANI MOUNFIELD. RIP RKID."
Tributes have flooded in from across the industry. Happy Mondays singer Rowetta posted on X, writing, "Going to miss you so much. All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew & loved him." Similarly, fellow musician Liam Gallagher expressed his shock at the tragic news, highlighting the deep impact Mani had on his peers and legions of fans.
The loss of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield marks the end of an era for British rock music, leaving behind a powerful legacy and a family navigating a double tragedy.
