The Stone Roses Bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield Dies At 63

Udiscovermusic ^ | November 20, 2025 | Sam Armstrong

[nickcarraway]

The death of the musician, who was also a member of Primal Scream, was confirmed by his brother.

Gary “Mani” Mounfield, the bassist of English rock band The Stone Roses since 1987, has died. His brother Greg shared the news on Facebook, writing, “‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother. Gary Mani Mounfield RIP.” In a comment, he added that Mani was “Reunited with his beautiful wife [I]melda.” His wife died from cancer in 2023. Mani was 63 years old.

Aside from his work in the Stone Roses, Mani was also well known for his work in Primal Scream, which he joined after the Stone Roses went on hiatus in 1996. The bassist also contributed to or toured with bands like Ian Brown, Ocean Colour Scene, The Enemy and Paul Weller throughout the years. He was also a noted fan of playing darts.

Born in Manchester, United Kingdom in 1962, Mani left school at age 16 before joining the Stone Roses when he was 25. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1989, and while it was not an immediate hit, time has been very kind; the album frequently appears on greatest-ever lists and has been acclaimed in retrospective reviews. Earlier in 2025, Mani reflected on the album, saying, “That record’s going to sound as pristine and beautiful as it does forever. We tapped into something only music could unlock.” The band released their second and final album, The Second Coming, in 1994. Though they reformed in 2011 after their 1996 dissolution, and though they released singles “All For One” and “Beautiful Thing” in 2016, another album never came.

During the band’s split, Mani remained on good terms with his fellow musicians, joining Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown on stage for a performance in 2008. His work with Primal Scream also saw the musician work with new genres of music, occasionally working in house and dance. Mani eventually toured again with the Stone Roses until 2017 when they split again. Throughout his life, Mani maintained a good sense of humor. “I’m still learning,” he said in an interview with Guitar World. “You can never know everything. I know nothing, man, but ignorance is bliss, y’know what I mean?”

[nickcarraway]

The Stone Roses - Top 7 Bass Lines

Mani isolated bass Fools Gold Isle Of Wight festival The Stone Roses

[philled]

RIP Gary.
The Roses are in my all-time Top 10. Great live as well. Thanks for the links- I’d never heard the isolated before.

[equaviator]

Isle of Wight? Did they play before or after Hendrix?

[BillyBonebrake]

Legend

[Dalberg-Acton]

This is what I remembered.

The Stone Roses - Love Spreads/a>

YouTube video.

[Mr. Blond]

So, he was adored?

[dfwgator]

I was partial to Happy Mondays.

[Robert DeLong]

He died after collapsing from a seizure, but they do not elaborate what the cause of the seizues was. The fact that his wife died from cancer, who one woud assume she was probably younger. So, his age at death is not that remrarkable, but condolences for those serviving both of those losses in a relatively short period of time.

I have never heard of the group personally"

The Stone Roses were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band's classic and most prominent lineup consisted of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, and drummer Alan "Reni" Wren.

The Stone Roses released their eponymous debut album in 1989. The album was a breakthrough success for the band, receiving widespread critical acclaim, and is regarded by many as one of the greatest British albums ever recorded.

Following this success, the band sought to capitalize on their newfound fame by signing with a major label. However, their record label at the time, Silvertone, would not let them out of their contract, leading to a lengthy legal battle that culminated with the band signing with Geffen Records in 1991.

Here's a sample. not bad if I say so myself:

The Stone Roses - I Want To Be Adored

This is the album the above mentions is you so desire to hear more:

The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989 Album)

[faucetman]

Never heard of ya, sorry that you died. Seizure? Drugs?

[philled]

From the Apple Music write up of their debut:

“ The Stone Roses’ debut album heralded a seismic change in British music, but its impact was far from immediate….
They were going to be massive.
It wasn’t always that way. The Manchester quartet had been in operation since 1983 and had wondered if their chance would ever come. It all changed with the addition of bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield to the line-up in late 1987, his fleet-footed funk grooves adding a new dimension to the mix of indie and psychedelia….
Today, it’s hard to fathom how The Stone Roses didn’t immediately stop everyone in their tracks upon release. One of the great debuts of all time, it captures the essence of late-’80s Britain as it morphed into the ’90s at the same time as still sounding entirely fresh. It is the sound of cultures converging, the chiming guitars of ’80s indie meeting melodic ’60s pop and the euphoria of the dance floor— a mixture that would come to be defined as the “Madchester” sound….
signaled the arrival of a new youth movement via an army of fans in bucket hats and baggy jeans, and it became a full national phenomenon… a sea change was afoot….
Its success goes way beyond chart placings, however—the further you get away from it, the more important it seems. It’s an album that planted the seed for Britpop, an album that gave Liam Gallagher the notion that he could be a singer in a band one day too, that inspired people to dream.”