Mani from Stone Roses Dies at 63, Leaves Behind Twin Sons

The music world lost a defining figure today: Gary "Mani" Mounfield, the legendary bassist for both The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, died at his home aged 63.

His unexpected death comes almost exactly two years after his beloved wife, Imelda, passed away from cancer.

North West Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics responded to the Heaton Moor address on Thursday morning.

Emergency crews attended the private home at 10:42 am, but no patient required transportation to the hospital, indicating he died at the scene. Authorities have not yet released a cause of death.

Mani’s distinctive basslines formed the essential groove of The Stone Roses’ seminal sound.

His playing immediately captured listeners, most notably on "I Wanna Be Adored," which opens the band’s iconic 1989 debut album.

Record shop Rough Trade famously called him "the perfect example of how a bassist can be the beating heart of a band."

His work with the band, including their famous 1990 gig at Spike Island, inspired an entire generation of British rock musicians.

After The Stone Roses disbanded, Mani joined Primal Scream in 1996, adding his signature funk and rock influence to their subsequent albums until The Stone Roses reunited in 2011.

The rock icon’s death is a second tragedy for his family. He and his late wife, Imelda, shared 12-year-old twin sons, Gene and George.

Imelda died on November 18, 2023, at age 52 after a battle with stage four bowel cancer.

Just last month, Mani sounded ready to return to the stage. He announced a national conversation tour, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and Me, scheduled to run through 2026 and 2027.

He told fans he would offer his "skewed vision of [his] own life," though he joked that he was "getting too old now."

Tributes have poured in from across the music community. Former Stone Roses bandmate Ian Brown wrote simply: "REST IN PEACE MANi X."

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher expressed his shock and devastation, calling Mani "MY HERO."

You can find a video about Mani's passing here: Stone Roses and Primal Scream Bassist Mani has died aged 63