Ian Brown looked emotional as he stepped out in Manchester on Saturday, two days after the death of his bandmate Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
The Stone Roses frontman sported long grey hair and a bushy beard as he headed out in the rain.
Ian, 62, paid tribute to Mani, 63, after his shock death was announced on Thursday. ‘Rest In Peace Mani’ the singer wrote on social media.
Ian also reshared a fan post which included a throwback photo when they met the band.
The fan wrote: ‘Absolutely gutted to read Mani, the Stone Roses’s bassist, has died. In 2016, I spotted him, Reni & @ianbrown chilling in a bar – and plucked up the courage to say hi. They couldn’t have been nicer. No airs n graces. Just funny, warm & charming.Thank u for the music Mani. RIP x’ [sic].
Mani’s brother Greg first announced 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.’
He added in the comment section: ‘Reunited with his beautiful wife Imelda.’
Gary is understood to have died at his home in Heaton Moor Stockport after collapsing following a seizure.
Family sources say that an ambulance was called but he couldn’t be revived.
The Stone Roses took to X to share a throwback photo of Gary playing the bass and wrote: ‘RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for. X’.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Noel and Liam Gallagher were informed of Mani’s death on Thursday afternoon just hours before his brother Greg made the announcement, and the brothers are said to be ‘absolutely heartbroken’.
It comes just two years after his wife Imelda Mounfield died from cancer. Imelda, who had twin sons, was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago.
Only six days ago, Mani announced an intimate conversation tour on the band’s website.
He was due to recount his experiences at various venues across the UK between September 2026 and June 2027, looking back on moments such as the iconic 1990 Spike Island gig, as well as the Stone Roses’ comeback stadium tour.
It said of Mani’s project: ‘He’ll remember “Fools Gold”, Wembley Stadium, Ally Pally, court cases, bucket hats, Adidas, “Screamadelica”, and the “Second Coming”. It’s What The World Is Waiting For.’
Mani was last seen out in public at the funeral of Ricky Hatton at Manchester Cathedral last month.
Mani, who was born and raised in Manchester, left school at 16 to pursue a career in music and rose to fame after joining The Stone Roses in the 1980s.
Playing on both of the band’s albums, the musician was in the Stone Roses until they disbanded in 1996, later joining Primal Scream. In 2011, he announced that he had left Primal Scream to reform The Stone Roses.
Tributes have since been flooding in across the music world after the announcement of his death was made on Thursday.
Liam Gallagher penned: ‘IN TOTAL SHOCK AND ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED ON HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT MANI MY HERO RIP RKID LG’
Gary’s nephew also posted a heartbreaking tribute, which said he would now be ‘reunited in heaven with his wife’ Imelda.
He wrote: ‘Unfortunately with sad news my uncle Gary Mani Mounfield from the stone roses has sadly passed away today.
‘Thinking of his twins and my uncle Greg at this sad time. He will be reunited in heaven with his lovely wife Imelda RIP Manni Your annoying nephew.’
One fan wrote on social media platform X: ‘R.I.P Mani. One of the greats. Such a shock and a massive shame’;
‘Ahh man, My hearts just hit the floor. Stone Roses Guitarist Gary “Mani” Mounfield has passed away at 63. No way. Rest well Dude. Gutted’;
‘This is such sad news – one of the greats of the Manchester music scene for many years. RIP Mani’
Happy Mondays singer Rowetta posted on X: ‘Going to miss you so much. All my love to the boys, the family & all those who knew & loved him.’
During the 13-month long recording of the second Stone Roses album Second Coming at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, Mani met his wife Imelda.
In the wake of her cancer diagnosis, Imelda and Mani held a string a number of charity fundraisers to raise money for good causes The Christie Hospital, The Stockport Charitable Trust and Maggie’s.
They raised funds for charity by organising auctions of items from David Beckham and Oasis.
She told the BBC: ‘I just don’t want to be sat thinking about cancer and illness all the time, because it is all-consuming.
‘And this was just a way to balance that out – to give myself something else to think about but something positive.
‘Sometimes I have bad days and demon days and I’ll have side effects. And other times people haven’t got a clue that I’m ill because I try and carry on as best as I can.’
Imelda’s death came weeks after The Stone Roses’ bassist Pete died aged 61 – reportedly after a cancer battle.
The musician was the Manchester band’s original bassist but quit the group in 1987 to work in HMV because he did not feel worthy of being in the group.
