Ian Brown, Liam Gallagher and Manchester Legends Lead Tributes to Mani After His Death at 63
The UK music world is paying emotional tribute to Gary “Mani” Mounfield — the beloved Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist — after news of his death at 63 was confirmed by his family. His passing, reported by outlets including Pitchfork and The Guardian, has triggered an outpouring of love from across the British rock landscape.
Ian Brown, his longtime Stone Roses bandmate, posted a short but heartfelt tribute: “Rest in peace Man i X.” Liam Gallagher called the bassist “my hero,” writing that he was “totally devastated” by the loss. Gallagher has long cited Mani — alongside his brother Paul — as a Manchester icon who shaped his understanding of what a working-class rock star could be.
Mani’s influence stretched far beyond his band credits. His unmistakable bass lines on the Stone Roses’ 1989 self-titled debut — from “I Wanna Be Adored” to “She Bangs the Drums” — helped define the sound of the Madchester era and set the template for bands that would dominate British music for the next decade. Later, during his tenure with Primal Scream, he contributed to some of the band’s most adventurous periods, further cementing his place in British rock history.
The outpouring of tributes reflects Mani’s unique place in the scene: more than just a musician, he was a connector across eras — from late-80s Manchester clubs to the Britpop boom and beyond. As LouderSound notes, he was revered not only for his playing, but for his warmth, humour and lack of ego.
For fans who lived through the rise of The Stone Roses, Mani’s death marks the loss of one of the genre’s true heartbeat players — a figure whose musical legacy shaped an entire generation of British guitar bands.
