Gary “Mani” Mounfield — the electrifying, no-nonsense bassist who helped define the sound of Manchester rock long before the era of auto-tuned pop stars — has died at 63. His brother Greg announced the news on Facebook, writing with heartbreaking simplicity: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother Gary Mani Mounfield.”
Paramedics were reportedly called to what is believed to have been Mani’s home Thursday morning, though no transport to the hospital was made. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Mani, unlike today’s celebrity activists, wasn’t one for drama or attention-seeking. In what would become his final Instagram post on November 13, he wrote with humility and humor about preparing for what might be his “final road trip,” joking that he was “getting too old now”—then making it clear he wouldn’t be airing “slaggings off of bandmates” or indulging in gossip. “I would never rat on my comrades,” he wrote. A rare ethic in modern entertainment.
The tributes that poured in from across Britain’s music scene captured just how influential he was — not just as a musician, but as a person. Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown posted simply: “REST IN PEACE MANi X.” The band’s official account called him “the greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for.”
Oasis singer Liam Gallagher, who normally doesn’t mince words, admitted he was “in total shock and absolutely devastated … My hero, RIP R Kid.” Even pop singer Lily Allen and Courteeners frontman Liam Fray shared tributes, the latter saying, “Everyone who knew you will miss you so much… every one of [the good times] was a privilege.”
Born in 1962 in Crumpsall, England, Mani became a founding force in what would become the Stone Roses — a band whose psychedelic, riff-driven rock shaped an entire generation and put Manchester firmly on the global map of influential music cities. Songs like “Fools Gold,” “Love Spreads,” and “This Is the One” became anthems, not corporate-produced studio products.
The band split in 1996, reunited briefly in 2011, produced two new singles in 2016, then parted ways again in 2017 — but Mani’s legacy was already cemented. After the first breakup, he spent 15 years with Primal Scream, contributing to albums such as *Vanishing Point* and *Evil Heat*.
New Order, another iconic Manchester band, praised him as “a great guy, good fun and a father to two boys,” noting that his influence would continue “in the hearts and minds of all his family, friends and fans.” ART for MCR, an organization supporting local charities through music, called him “a true giant of this city.”
Mani’s personal life held both triumph and tragedy. He shared twin 12-year-old sons with his late wife Imelda, who tragically passed away from cancer in 2023. He leaves behind those sons, along with a city — and an entire generation of music fans — who were shaped by his sound and his spirit.
In a culture increasingly dominated by fleeting fame and political posturing, Mani stood out as something rare: a musician who let the music speak for itself. His loss is deeply felt — and his legacy will endure.
