Ask Onix
Manchester pays tribute to legendary bassist
Hundreds of mourners, including iconic figures from music and football, gathered at Manchester Cathedral to honor Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, who passed away last month at 63.
Iconic figures attend emotional service
Former Stone Roses bandmates Ian Brown and John Squire were joined by Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher at the funeral service. Football legends Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville also attended, reflecting Mounfield's deep ties to Manchester's cultural scene.
Fans lined the streets as the funeral cortege traveled from Mounfield's home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, to the cathedral, where a guard of scooter riders led the procession. The Stone Roses' hit I Wanna Be Adored played as the coffin, adorned with the band's signature paint-splashed artwork and a Manchester United scarf, was carried inside.
Tributes celebrate a 'beautiful soul'
Ian Brown delivered a heartfelt eulogy, describing Mounfield as 'a brother' and 'the life and soul of any room.' Speaking outside the cathedral, Brown suggested a campaign for a 'fifty-foot gold statue' of his bandmate in Manchester, drawing applause from the crowd. Many fans wore Stone Roses T-shirts and bucket hats, a nod to the band's iconic style.
"He was able to laugh his way through any darkness. A beautiful soul and spirit."
Ian Brown, Stone Roses singer
Bobby Gillespie recalled meeting Mounfield at Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub, praising his 'contagious enthusiasm and positivity.' Other attendees included Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs (Oasis), Mike Joyce (The Smiths), Peter Hook (New Order), and Bez (Happy Mondays), underscoring Mounfield's influence across generations of Manchester music.
Musical legacy and final years
Mounfield's basslines defined The Stone Roses' 'baggy' sound, featured on classics like Fools Gold and I Wanna Be Adored. Their 1989 debut album, ranked the greatest British album of all time by The Observer and NME, cemented the band's place in music history. After The Stone Roses disbanded in 1996, Mounfield joined Primal Scream, contributing to five albums before reuniting with his former band for a series of concerts in 2016-2017.
His death, attributed to respiratory issues linked to emphysema, followed the loss of his wife Imelda in 2023. The couple leaves behind twin sons, born in 2013. Just weeks before his passing, Mounfield attended the funeral of fellow Manchester icon Ricky Hatton at the same cathedral.
Manchester mourns a cultural icon
Music journalist John Robb described Mounfield as 'the heart and soul of Manchester,' a sentiment echoed by fans and peers alike. Doves paid tribute during a recent concert at Manchester Apollo, calling him a 'beautiful person.' John Squire shared new artwork in his honor, while plans for Mounfield's in-conversation tour, set to begin next September, were left unfulfilled.
As Ian Brown told the crowd at The Stone Roses' final concert: "Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened."
