Whatโs occurring, Riff Report crew?
Weโre gutted today. Properly gutted. Britain has lost one of its most iconic bassists โ a man whose low-end thunder shaped an entire era of indie, rave culture, and sweat-drenched clubs from Manchester to the Valleys.
Gary โManiโ Mounfield, legendary bassist of The Stone Roses and longtime member of Primal Scream, has died aged 63. ๐ค
The heartbreaking news came from his brother Greg, who posted:
โIT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SAD PASSING OF MY BROTHER GARY MANI MOUNFIELD. RIP RKID.โ
No fancy words needed. Just pure grief from a family โ and a music world โ that adored him.
๐น THE STONE ROSES: THE BASSLINES THAT MADE BRITAIN MOVE
Letโs not beat around the bush โ The Stone Roses donโt sound like The Stone Roses without Mani.
His bass wasnโt background. It was the engine. The swagger. The heartbeat.
From the hypnotic hum of โI Wanna Be Adoredโ to the dancefloor-igniting pulse of โFools Goldโ, Mani created a groove that defined Madchester. His playing didnโt just shake speakers โ it rewired British music culture.
He was the cheeky, grounded, hilarious glue inside one of the most beautifully chaotic bands Britain has ever produced.
Bucket hats off, lads. This is a massive loss.
๐ฅ PRIMAL SCREAM: A SECOND CHAPTER OF PURE CHAOS & CLASS
When the Roses imploded in a storm of attitude, lawsuits, and Manc mysticism, Mani didnโt call it a day โ he levelled up.
Joining Primal Scream in 1996, he helped shape some of their wildest, most beloved eras.
On albums like XTRMNTR, Vanishing Point, and Riot City Blues, Mani brought that funky, filthy groove that turned every venue into a riotous, sweaty sermon.
Bobby Gillespie once said that Mani โbrought heart, soul and humourโ to the band.
Anyone who saw them live knows thatโs the truth. Mani was the vibe.
๐ FANS, MUSICIANS & MATES REACT โ A NATION GUTTED
Tributes are pouring in from every corner of the UK music scene.
Roses fans. Screamadelica lifers. Indie kids. Festival diehards. Even people who only heard โShe Bangs the Drumsโ at indie discos are feeling this one.
Everyoneโs saying the same thing:
Mani wasnโt just a bassist โ he was a spirit. A joker. A soul. One of the real ones.
And in classic Mani fashion, he never acted like a legend.
He acted like your mate from down the pub.
๐ฅ WHY THIS LOSS CUTS SO DEEP
There are musicians. There are icons.
And then there are the few who shift the entire musical landscape.
Mani did that.
His basslines were the soundtrack to illegal raves, indie nights, festival sunrises, teenage heartbreaks, and generations of Brits figuring out who they were.
He leaves behind a legacy carved in funk, grit, humour, and absolute Manc swagger.
Proper job, that.
๐ธ RIP GARY โMANIโ MOUNFIELD โ A TRUE RKID, A GROOVE MERCHANT, A LEGEND FOREVER
Tonight, play Fools Gold too loud.
Whack on I Am the Resurrection.
Throw Movinโ On Up into the playlist.
Raise a glass. Raise the volume. Raise some hell in his honour.
Diolch, Mani.
Thanks for the music, the groove, the mischief, and the magic.
You changed everything, butt. ๐ค๐น๐ธ
