One of the greatest heroes of the British rock scene has left us, and a deep sense of loss now echoes through the music world.
Gary “Mani” Mounfield — the iconic bassist who gave both The Stone Roses and Primal Scream their driving heartbeat — has died at the age of 63.
His cause of death has not yet been announced.
I became a Stone Roses fan the very first moment their music hit my ears — and Mani was a huge part of why. He wasn’t just a bassist; he was one of the most genuinely lovable souls in music.
He gave The Stone Roses their unmistakable groove and poured so much warmth and heart into everything he played. His sound shaped the soundtrack of so many youths, and his influence rippled through countless bands that followed.
The news of Mani’s death was shared by his brother Greg on Facebook, on Thursday (November 20).
In his post, he wrote: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother Gary Mani Mounfield. RIP RKID.” He later followed up in the comments with: “Reunited with his beautiful wife Imelda.”
No details about the cause of death have been released.
According to the Manchester Evening News, emergency services were called to a private residence in Heaton Moor, Stockport, on Thursday morning. The outlet reported that this was the home of Mounfield.
A woman living nearby said that Mounfield mostly “kept himself to himself,” explaining: “I only saw him on occasions and would sometimes collect a parcel for him. I don’t know anybody on this street who knew him well. He just kept to himself and his family.”
Another resident, who spotted the ambulance outside, recalled: “I walked past about 11am. I saw two ambulances outside. I didn’t get to ask what had happened because all the staff were inside.
“They were there for quite a while but I don’t remember what time they left. He’s always been a quiet neighbour, I didn’t know him well or interacted with him. I knew he lived quite close by but we weren’t in the same social circles.”
A turning point for the band
Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown also confirmed the loss, posting a short tribute on X that read: “REST IN PEACE MANI X.”
Born and raised in Crumpsall, Manchester, Mounfield became a member of The Stone Roses in 1987 after previously playing with rival group The Waterfront. He remained with the Roses until their 1996 breakup.
After the split, he joined Primal Scream as a full-time member, quickly forming a close bond with guitarist Robert “Throb” Young. The pair even made a memorable appearance together on the Scottish TV show Trout ‘n’ About in 2004.
Mounfield’s arrival in The Stone Roses is often seen as a turning point for the band, a shift often noted by fans and critics alike.
Speaking to Uncut in 2006, he described Primal Scream as “most of a democracy,” while explaining that in The Stone Roses, they were often “looking over our shoulder seeing if Ian and John [Squire] were pleased.
“Because they were writing the songs and being touted as the Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards kind of thing. For me now, there’s a lot more freedom. Primal Scream are as good at bulls*** detection as the Stone Roses ever were.”
He later reunited with Ian Brown, John Squire and Alan “Reni” Wren for The Stone Roses’ comeback shows between 2011 and 2017.
Outside of music, Mounfield was passionate about fishing — a hobby he developed as a child exploring the canals around Manchester.
In a 2008 interview with The Guardian, he recalled seeing wildlife such as otters and kingfishers, but also less idyllic scenes, like “people shagging in bushes” and “smackheads on the mooch at night, looking to rob houses”.
Mani also grew passionate about darts, a sport he continued to champion throughout his life.
His death comes almost exactly two years after his wife, Imelda Mounfield, passed away from cancer in November 2023. Together, they raised funds for cancer charities by organising memorabilia auctions with items from friends including Oasis members and David Beckham. The couple shared twin sons, Gene Clarke and George Christopher, born in 2012.
Mounfield had recently announced plans for a nationwide conversation tour set for September 2026, where he intended to look back on his four decades in music.
Liam Gallagher, who has long credited The Stone Roses for inspiring him to form a his band Oasis, wrote: “IN TOTAL SHOCK AND ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED ON HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT MANI MY HERO RIP RKID LG.”
Shaun Ryder of The Happy Mondays also shared his condolences: “RIP Mani, my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family.”
RIP Mani. Thank you for the joy your music gives us & the memories we will treasure forever!
