Ian Brown of The Stone Roses has been pictured for the first time since the death of his bandmate, bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
News of Mounfield’s death at the age of 63 broke on November 20, with his brother, Greg, writing on Facebook: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother. Gary Mani Mounfield RIP’.
He added in the comments section: ‘Reunited with his beautiful wife Imelda’.
It is understood that Mounfield, who was a dad to twin sons, died at home after collapsing, with paramedics sadly unable to revive him. Mounfield had lived in Stockport since 1991.
Mounfield was part of The Stone Roses from 1987 and performed on two albums until they disbanded in 1996, going on to become the bassist for Primal Scream for 15 years and later rejoining for the Stone Roses reunion.
During his Stone Roses stint, he performed alongside Brown and fellow bandmates John Squire and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren as part of their classic lineup.
Stepping out this weekend, a grieving Brown cut a solemn figure.
The group’s frontman sported long grey hair and a bushy beard as he strolled out in Greater Manchester.
Brown, 62, kept his hands in the pockets of his black puffer coat, wearing otherwise casual attire of dark jogging bottoms and white trainers.
After Mounfield’s death was first reported, he shared an initial simple tribute on social media, writing on X: ‘REST IN PEACE MANi X’
Fans and collaborators of Mounfield’s have since been flooding the internet with stories and fond memories of him, with Kasabian writing: ‘Sad and shocked to hear the news. RIP Mani. Beautiful man, Manchester Icon, a huge talent with huge heart and one of our first industry supporters as a band. You will be missed massively X.’
Happy Mondays singer Rowetta also posted: ‘Going to miss you so much. All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew & loved him.’
‘RIP Mani – my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family’, echoed Shaun Ryder.
‘IN TOTAL SHOCK AND ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED ON HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT MANI MY HERO RIP RKID LG’, tweeted Liam Gallagher.
Richard Ashcroft of The Verve referred to Mounfield as ‘one of the loveliest positive musicians to spend time with’, while Liam Fray of The Courteeners said his death is ‘what true sadness feels like’.
Manchester United are due to further honour Mounfield before their Premier League game against Everton at Old Trafford on Monday, since the rocker was a huge supporter of the team.
After his death, United said: ‘The club was part of his DNA, and he was proud to be Red.’
Mounfield’s death comes just two years after his wife (and the mother of his children, born in 2012) died from bowel cancer. She was given a stage 4 diagnosis in November 2020.
The former couple met in 1994 during a 13-month-long recording session, and they were married until her death in November 2023.
As well as his work with The Stone Roses, Mounfield had a guest role in the movie 24 Hour Party People in 2002 and was in a supergroup called Freebass, with bass players Andy Rourke of The Smiths and Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order. They split before releasing their debut record in 2010.
He was, however, a key part of The Stone Roses for fans, meaning their reunion was warmly received as they hit the road again in 2013 before recording comeback singles in 2016.
The band played several UK gigs that year, including concerts at Manchester’s Heaton Park and London’s Wembley Stadium.
Their final gig as the classic lineup was played at Glasgow’s Hampden Park in 2017, during which Brown told the crowd: ‘Don’t be sad that it’s over; be happy that it happened.’
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