Stone Roses’ bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield. Photo: Ryan Phillips
Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, bassist for The Stone Roses, has died aged 63.
The news was announced by his brother Greg on Facebook, in a statement that said: “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 added in the comments: “Reunited with his beautiful wife Imelda.”
A cause of death has yet to be disclosed.
Mounfield is understood to have died at home after collapsing. Family sources say an ambulance was called but he could not be revived.
His death comes just two years after his wife, Imelda Mounfield, died from cancer. She had twin sons and had been diagnosed with bowel cancer three years earlier.
Raised in Crumpsall, Manchester, Mounfield joined The Stone Roses in 1987, having previously been a member of rival band The Waterfront, and performed with the band until their split in 1996.
He rejoined the group with core members Ian Brown, John Squire and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren for their reunion shows between 2011 to 2017.
Writing for The Independent in 2019, Ed Power noted how it was the recruitment of Mounfield that seemed to “change” something for the band. “Brown, Squire and drummer Reni were dreamers,” he wrote.
“Mani was a rocker. Now the tweeness that characterised early singles such as ‘Sally Cinnamon’ evolved into something slicker, sleeker, groovier.”
Tributes began pouring in following the news, including from The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess, who called him a “beautiful friend” and “one of the absolute best in every way”.
The singer also shared a photo of him and Mounfield, which he said “never failed to bring a smile to my face”.
“Love you Mani,” he wrote. “Never to be forgotten.”
