Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield: Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist dies at 63

Gary “Mani” Mounfield, bassist for legendary Manchester band Stone Roses, has died at the age of 63.

Mounfield’s bass was an integral part of the Stone Roses’ “loose” sound, and he later reunited with his bandmates for their 2012 comeback tour.

He joined another seminal group, Primal Scream, in 1996 and played with them for 15 years.

The musician’s brother, Greg, announced his death “with the greatest regret” in a post on Facebook. Oasis singer Liam Gallagher led the tributes, posting: “In total shock and absolutely devastated to hear the news about Mani. My hero RIP R Kid.”

Mani’s bandmate Ian Brown also paid tribute to X, writing: “REST IN PEACE MANi X.”

Mounfield’s wife Imelda died in November 2023, three years after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The couple has twins, who were born in 2013.

Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder posted: “RIP Mani – my deepest condolences to his twins and all his family.”

Ryder’s Happy Mondays bandmate, vocalist Rowetta, posted a photo of herself with Mani and Imelda on X with the message: “I’m going to miss you a lot. All my love to the children, the family and all those who knew and loved him.”

With Mani on bass, Brown on vocals, John Squire on guitar and Alan “Reni” Wren on drums, the Stone Roses were at the forefront of the “Madchester” indie scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Combining a melting pot of influences from indie, punk, psychedelic rock, dance, funk and reggae, they released their beloved debut album in 1989, and their harder rock follow-up, Second Coming, came out in 1994. Both albums reached the top five in the UK.

Their debut album included classic songs such as I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs The Drums and I Am The Resurrection, all backed by the rhythms of Mani’s bass lines.

After the group disbanded in 1996, Mani joined Scottish rock band Primal Scream, first playing on their album Vanishing Point, released a year later, where his bass playing was a key part of the krautrock-influenced lead single, Kowalski.

Mounfield would record four more albums with Primal Scream before leaving in 2011 to reform The Stone Roses.

The band released two more singles in 2016, but no full-length album followed and the group disbanded once again in 2017 after old tensions resurfaced.

The Stone Roses played several concerts in the United Kingdom during 2016 and 2017 before their split, including a concert in Glasgow’s Hampden Park, which would end up being the classic line-up’s last concert.

Brown told the crowd: “Don’t be sad that this is over, be happy that it happened.”

Last month, Mani told the Rockonteurs podcast that he was “in a great space” and was “looking forward to getting back” on stage.

The Charlatans’ lead singer Tim Burgess reposted a photo of the couple together that he had originally shared last week, on Mani’s 63rd birthday.

“One of the best in every way,” Burgess wrote. “What a beautiful friend.”

Echo And The Bunnymen singer Ian McCulloch also posted a tribute on X, saying his “thoughts and feelings” were with his family.

“I am absolutely devastated to hear the news about Mani, who I have always loved and always will love, deeply and forever. Like a brother,” McCulloch said. “To be honest, I’m shocked.”

Mani also had a guest role in the 2022 film 24 Hour Party People and was in the supergroup Freebass, with fellow bassists Andy Rourke of The Smiths and Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order.

Hook wrote on

The supergroup disbanded before releasing their debut album, It’s A Beautiful Life, in 2010.

Manchester-based music publicist and friend Liam Walsh said: “I’ve known Mani for 40 years. He was such a strange person – he always greeted me, and everyone, so warmly.

“He was always happy to see you, and I was always happy to see him. He had the most infectious laugh that gave him all those laugh lines.”

Walsh said he was “in shock” after hearing the news on his way to a music industry event. “When I walked in, Fools Gold by Stone Roses, with that famous bass line of his, was playing in the bar. His legacy will live on forever.”

Away from music, the Manchester-born star was a big Manchester United fan and often spoke about the team on television and radio.

Mounfield’s death comes after he announced a speaking tour of UK venues, in which he would have recounted his experiences and memories on Stone Roses and Primal Scream, starting in September next year.