Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, Stone Roses and Primal Scream Bassist, Dies at 63

The music community is in mourning following the death of Gary "Mani" Mounfield, the legendary bassist for The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He was 63. His brother, Greg Mounfield, confirmed the news in a heartbreaking social media announcement, writing, "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother. RIP RKID." A cause of death was not disclosed.

Mounfield was a foundational figure in the "Madchester" scene, becoming a member of The Stone Roses in 1987. His melodic and driving bass lines were essential to the band's identity, shaping their influential 1989 self-titled debut—particularly the unforgettable opening riff of "I Wanna Be Adored"—and their 1994 album, "Second Coming." Following the initial breakup of The Stone Roses in 1996, he solidified his place as a permanent member of the Scottish alternative rock outfit Primal Scream, playing on a string of acclaimed records until his exit in 2011.

Tributes have poured in from peers across the industry. The Stone Roses' vocalist Ian Brown shared a succinct "REST IN PEACE MANi X" online, while Oasis's Liam Gallagher posted that he was "absolutely gutted," calling Mounfield "my hero." Mani was widely credited as the architect of The Stone Roses' reunion, a mission he accomplished upon leaving Primal Scream in 2011 to regroup with his former band. This led to a historic series of comeback performances, including sold-out concerts at London's Wembley Stadium and a headline appearance at California's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, before the band parted ways again in 2017.

His passing comes just over a year after the death of his wife, Imelda, who lost her battle with bowel cancer in 2023. Mounfield is survived by their twin sons. At the time of his death, he was in the process of planning a 2025 U.K. tour of "in conversation" events, offering fans a unique opportunity to hear personal stories from his remarkable journey with two of Britain's most iconic groups.