With The Stone Roses and Primal Scream legend Gary “Mani” Mounfield set to be laid to rest later this month, authorities have shared the bassist’s cause of death.
- READ MORE: Gary “Mani” Mounfield, 1962-2025: baggy bass hero whose melodies made the Madchester movement
The bassist and Manchester music icon died last month (November 20). He was aged 63.
The announcement was shared online by his brother Greg, who told fans the news with “the heaviest of hearts”, and tributes quickly came in from the likes of Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, Primal Scream bandmate Simone Butler, Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder, Liam Gallagher, and many more.
Now, it’s been confirmed by his family that the musician died peacefully in his sleep of “respiratory issues” linked to the long-standing lung condition emphysema, per Manchester Evening News.
Mani was reportedly not taken to hospital, with his death being declared at the scene. Police are not believed to have attended the address, with a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson confirming that his death was “non-suspicious”.
Last week, Mani’s brother Greg revealed that the artist will be laid to rest later this month with a funeral taking place at Manchester Cathedral.
A service will be taking place at Manchester Cathedral on Victoria Street on Monday December 22, beginning at 11.30am. After this, a “private committal service” will be held for family and close friends.
Greg also told fans that Mani died “peacefully at his home in Heaton Moor” in Greater Manchester. He then went on to describe him as a “beloved husband to the late Imelda [and] the much loved father to George, Gene and Joe”, as well as “a loved son-in-law, nephew, cousin and good friend to many.”
Message shared by Greg Mounfield:
ON MONDAY DECEMBER 22ND A SERVICE FOR MANI WILL BE HELD IN MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL VICTORIA STREET, MANCHESTER M3 1SX AT 11:30 AM. FOLLOWED BY A PRIVATE COMMIITTAL SERVICE. ALL ENQUIRES TO ANGELA GAMBLE FUNERAL SERVICE TELEPHONE 0161 6813919. pic.twitter.com/uRmLA10Ele
— The Stone Roses fan page (@TheStoneRosesFP) December 11, 2025
In a tribute to Mani, NME described how the late musician “held a rare place in the world of bass heroes” and “defined a scene with some of the most infectious and hypnotic basslines ever recorded.”
“Both weighty and melodic, Mani’s bewitching basslines became the bedrock and, often, the driving force of The Roses’ breakthrough tracks ‘Elephant Stone’, ‘Made Of Stone’ and ‘She Bangs The Drums’, and underpinned the band’s low-slung funk development on ‘Fools Gold’ – arguably a four-minute encapsulation of the entire late-’80s dance rock scene,” it read.
After learning of his passing, both Oasis and Richard Ashcroft paid respects to Mani during their shows in Brazil, as part of the ‘Live ’25’ tour. The latter shared a short cover of The Stone Roses’ ‘She Bangs The Drums’ and dedicated The Verve fan-favourite ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ to him, while Liam and Noel Gallagher honoured him on the classic track ‘Live Forever’.
My Bloody Valentine also kicked off their first tour in seven years by dedicating the gig to the Manchester icon, and Primal Scream paid tribute to their former bandmate at their Manchester Warehouse Project show.
Fans have been paying respects too, resharing past footage of Mani that perfectly showcased his big personality and tongue-in-cheek charisma.
More recently, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie recalled when he and Mani met Joey Ramone, describing it as “like a scene from a movie”, and former New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook – who worked with Mani in Freebass – described how “from a bass-playing point of view, he was the best”.
