The Stone Roses singer, Ian Brown, has remembered his bandmate Gary “Mani” Mounfield as a “true musical comrade” and “always a beautiful soul and spirit” as hundreds gathered for the charismatic bassist’s funeral.
Paul Weller, Liam Gallagher, Peter Hook, Tim Burgess, Bez, David Beckham and Gary Neville were among the mourners at the service at Manchester Cathedral on Monday morning. Outside, fans packed the street.
Mounfield was the Stone Roses’ much-admired bassist and later a member of Primal Scream. He died at his home in Stockport on 20 November, aged 63.
His coffin, resembling the cover of the first Stone Roses album, was carried out of the cathedral by Brown, Gallagher, Primal Scream’s frontman, Bobby Gillespie, the band’s guitarist, Andrew Innes, and his Stone Roses bandmates John Squire and Alan “Reni” Wren.
Brown told the service: “One thing we can all agree on is Mani was one of the greatest lads we ever met, one of the greatest men we ever knew. Lucky us. Mani was like a brother to me. A dream as a friend. A true musical comrade.”
He continued: “We all know Gaz lived his life laughing. And laughing was his number one pursuit – always looking for the next laugh, a non-stop laugh machine.
“Mani’s been in my corner whatever the situation, for 45 years – non-stop, unconditionally. Always a beautiful soul and spirit.”
Brown told the congregation how his friend had loved the same things all his life: “His family, his pals, fishing, football, [Manchester] United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clobber, town and all the usual gentlemanly pursuits.
“He lived a full, a fulfilled and a blessed life, going round and round the world lifting people up with his bass guitar skills.”
Brown said there had been a “tsunami of love” for Mounfield since his death, adding: “He loved everyone and everyone loves him … he was the life and soul of wherever he was, making every room he was in brighter.”
He told the gathered mourners: “Mani wouldn’t want us to be broken-hearted. But we all are.”
There were cheers in church when Brown said Mounfield loved Manchester more than anyone, and “few have done so much for this city”, calling for a 50ft, solid gold statue to be erected in his memory.
Gillespie told the service how much he cherished Mounfield’s time in Primal Scream after he joined in 1996. “He was a funky little mother, with a rock’and’roll heart,” he said.
“He stalked the stage with the stealth of a panther, with the grace of a dancer. How fortunate we were to have him in our band and in our lives,” said Gillespie. “Mani’s not dead, he’s just gone.”
Gillespie also paid tribute to Mounfield’s wife, Imelda – with whom he had two children – who died two years ago. He said she was his “rock”, telling the congregation they were an “amazing couple”.
Mounfield had recently announced a UK speaking tour from September 2026 to June 2027, in which he promised to look back on pivotal career moments such as the Stone Roses’ 1990 gig at Spike Island and their comeback tour in 2012.
