Gary Mounfield, Bassist For The Stone Roses And Primal Scream, Passes Away At 63
Bassist Gary Mounfield, known for his years in the English bands the Stone Roses and Primal Scream, has passed away at the age of 63. Mounfield’s brother, Greg, shared the sad news on Thursday. Tributes have poured in on social media for the influential musician ever since the announcement.
Circumstances of Gary Mounfield’s Death Remain Unknown
According to the Manchester Evening News, paramedics were called to what was believed to be Manfield’s current residence on Thursday morning, but no one was taken to the hospital. No further details on what happened have been released. No cause of death has been announced.
Gary Mounfield’s Farewell Tour Plans
Mounfield, known to many as “Mani,” had just celebrated his 63rd birthday on November 16th. Last week, the musician announced big tour plans for 2026 and early 2027. The tour was titled “The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and Me – An Intimate Evening with Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.” It was designed to be an opportunity for Mounfield to reflect on his days in the two iconic bands while answering questions from his fans. The bassist had already announced 69 scheduled tour dates.
The Stone Roses (1987-1996, 2011-2017)
Mounfield joined the Stone Roses in 1987, having played in one of their earlier incarnations, the Fireside Chaps. In 1989, the band released their eponymous first studio album. The album went quintuple-platinum in the UK and peaked at Number Five on the charts there. Two of the album’s singles would break the Top 20 of Billboard‘s Alternative chart in the United States, “She Bangs the Drums” and “I Wanna Be Adored.” Five of the album’s singles charted in the UK.
The Stone Roses followed up their debut with Second Coming in 1994. The alt-rockers’ sophomore effort reached Number Four on the UK charts and peaked at #47 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. It went double-platinum in the UK and produced three Top 20 singles there. The lead single, “Love Spreads,” climbed as high as Number Two on the UK Singles chart and the Billboard Alternative chart in the U.S.
The Stone Roses broke up in 1996, and Mounfield moved on to play bass for the Scottish alternative band Primal Scream. The Stone Roses eventually reunited in 2011 and played together until finally splitting in 2017. Altogether, the band released one EP, two studio albums, six compilations, and 15 singles.
Primal Scream (1996-2011)
After the breakup of the Stone Roses, Mounfield replaced Henry Olsen as bassist for Primal Scream. The Glasgow-based band had taken a hiatus after nearly splitting up as well, but the reformed version of the group moved ahead with a new energy. Mounfield recorded and toured with the band for 15 years, contributing on five studio albums, two compilations, two live albums, a remix album and an EP. All five of those studio albums landed in the Top Ten in the UK.
Tributes To Gary Mounfield
Along with thousands of fans, numerous musicians and friends paid tribute to Mounfield on social media. Here are some of those posts, starting with one from his bandmates in the Stone Roses.
Liam Gallagher of Oasis posted:
Liam’s brother and bandmate, Noel, posted:
New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook added:
Even soccer powerhouse Manchester United responded to the passing of one of their biggest fans:
Mounfield was a UK legend and was well-respected in his Manchester community. He inspired and influenced many British musicians. He was preceded in death by his wife Imelda, who died of cancer in 2023, and survived by their twin 12-year-old sons. His loss will leave a hole in the hearts and lives of friends, family members, and fans worldwide.
