Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, Stone Roses Bassist, Dies at 63.

2 days ago7 min read6 comments

The news of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield's passing at 63 has sent a seismic wave of grief through the very foundations of British music, a gut-wrenching chord that resonates far beyond the Manchester scene he helped define. For those of us who lived and breathed the era, Mani wasn't just the Stone Roses' bassist; he was the band's pulsating, unshakeable heart, the anchor that allowed Ian Brown's ethereal swagger and John Squire's kaleidoscopic guitar solos to soar into the stratosphere.His basslines were less a backing instrument and more a lead narrative—listen to the iconic, rolling funk of 'Fools Gold,' a track that didn't just define a summer but forged an entire genre, blending dancefloor euphoria with rock and roll attitude. It was Mani's low-end, that hypnotic, rhythmic pulse, that made the Roses not just a band you heard, but one you felt in your bones, a physical presence that compelled movement and devotion.The tributes pouring in, from his bandmate Ian Brown to Tim Burgess of The Charlatans, speak to a legacy carved not in ego, but in camaraderie and sheer, unadulterated musical joy. His work post-Roses with Primal Scream, another era-defining act, proved his genius was no fluke, providing the gritty, rock-solid foundation for anthems like 'Rocks' and 'Movin' On Up.' To lose Mani is to lose a piece of the very architecture of alternative music; he was the cool, unflappable presence on stage, the groove master whose work is now part of the essential curriculum for any aspiring bassist. His passing marks the end of a chapter, but his basslines—those timeless, funky, life-affirming riffs—will forever be the beat that a generation, and generations to come, will walk to, a permanent fixture on the soundtrack of our lives.

#featured

#Gary Mounfield

#Stone Roses

#Primal Scream

#bassist

#death

#tribute

#Manchester

#Ian Brown

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