The tragic love story of The Stone Roses legend Mani and his late wife Imelda: Gary Mounfield passed away two years after she died from cancer – leaving behind their 12-year-old orphaned twins

by

The beautiful 25-year marriage of Stone Roses bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield and his wife, Imelda, sadly ended with her passing.

Mani, a well-known musician, died on November 20th, just shy of two years after the passing of his wife, Imelda, who lost her battle with cancer on November 18, 2023.

The couple’s death means their 12-year-old twin boys, Gene and George, have been orphaned.

Mani and Imelda have been married for 25 years and are parents to two sons, who recently started secondary school. They were born in 2013.

Just 48 hours before Mani died, he paid tribute to his late wife and said how much he missed her. 

Today is the second anniversary of my wife Imelda’s death. We miss her deeply, but we’ve found a way to cope with her absence, feeling like she’s still nearby. Though we can’t see or touch her, we feel her presence with us every day. Rest peacefully, my love.

Just a few days after that, Mani’s brother, Greg, announced his death, sharing that he had been reunited with his beloved wife, Imelda.

Mani passed away at the age of 63 after suffering a seizure and collapsing at his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport. Sadly, despite the arrival of an ambulance, he could not be saved.

A service to celebrate the life of the bassist will be held at Manchester Cathedral on Monday at 11:30am. This will be followed by a private burial.

The family wasn’t always riddled with tragedy.

Mani and Imelda first connected while working on The Stone Roses’ album, Second Coming, in 1992, and their relationship blossomed from there.

After Imelda received a cancer diagnosis, she and Mani organized several charity events and collected over £100,000 for cancer research and support.

They raised funds for charity by organising auctions of items from David Beckham and Oasis.

Imelda explained to the BBC that she doesn’t want to constantly focus on cancer and being sick, as it takes over her thoughts.

I needed a healthy distraction – something to focus on that wasn’t negative, to help me feel more balanced.

I experience tough days and periods where my illness really affects me, leading to various side effects. But I also make an effort to appear normal and keep going, so sometimes people don’t even realize I’m struggling.

Mani was a strong emotional support for Imelda while she was ill, deeply invested in helping her through it.

The last time anyone saw Mani was at the funeral of his friend, Ricky Hatton, who tragically died by suicide in September. However, just a week before that, he’d announced a major nationwide tour planned for September 2026 to June 2027, during which he would share stories about his life and career in music.

Rowetta, a singer with the Happy Mondays and a friend of the deceased, shared a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter). She described Imelda Mounfield as beautiful, brave, and deeply loved, expressing how much she will be missed. Her thoughts and love are with Mani, Imelda’s sons, and all of Imelda’s family and friends.

Greg, Mani’s brother, shared the heartbreaking news of Mani’s death on Thursday, saying he was deeply saddened.

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of my brother Gary Mani Mounfield’s passing. May he rest in peace.

Liam Gallagher and Shaun Ryder led tributes to bassist Mani, who also played for Primal Scream.

Liam Gallagher, a close friend of Mani, shared his shock and sadness on X (formerly Twitter) after hearing the news of Mani’s passing, calling him a hero and offering a message of rest in peace.

Oh my god, I’m absolutely gutted. Shaun Ryder just posted a picture of him and Mani, and his message… it just broke my heart. He said ‘RIP Mani – my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family.’ It’s just… everything. Thinking of Mani’s family right now, especially those poor boys. He was such a legend.

Mani’s bandmate, and Stone Roses lead singer, Ian Brown wrote: ‘REST IN PEACE MANi X.’

Rowetta, who played with Shaun in the band Happy Mondays, also honored the musician behind the hit song “Fool’s Gold.” He was also well-known for collaborating with the band Primal Scream.

She shared on X that she’ll deeply miss him, sending her love to his children, family, and everyone who knew and cared for him.

Kasabian’s drummer, Ian Matthews, shared his sadness about the death of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, describing him as a kind person and incredibly talented musician, and a true legend.

Kasabian posted a message on their official account expressing their sadness and shock at the news.

We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Mani. He was a wonderful person, a Manchester legend, and an incredibly talented musician with a big heart. He was also one of the first people in the music industry to support our band, and we’ll miss him greatly.

Echo & the Bunnymen expressed their deep sadness upon hearing about the passing of Mani, describing him as a beloved brother. They are in shock and hoping it’s all a bad dream, sending their love and thoughts to his family. – Mac Bunnyman

‘RIP Mani. X ❤️,’ said Oasis co-founder and guitarist Paul Arthurs. 

Peter Hook, the bassist and founding member of Joy Division, expressed his shock and sadness at the news, saying he was lost for words. He sent his condolences and love to Mani’s family and ended with a final farewell, signing off as ‘Hooky’.

Fans of the bassist immediately shared their sadness online, with many describing a feeling of emptiness after hearing about his death.

ART for MCR, a group that hosts concerts to support Manchester charities, acknowledged that the city’s music scene has been profoundly changed.

We were heartbroken to learn about the death of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield. Sharing a photo of him, we said he was a legend in our city and a huge inspiration to every musician here. We’re completely stunned and saddened by the loss.

‘Honestly, The groove, the attitude, the spirit… he shaped so much of the music that shaped us.

This is truly heartbreaking. He was deeply loved by everyone. I vividly remember being incredibly upset while watching them perform at the Heaton Park concerts.

We send our deepest condolences to the Mounfield family, the Roses community, and everyone affected by this loss. Rest in peace, Mani. Your unique contribution to Manchester’s music scene will be greatly missed.

On November 13th, Mani made his last post on social media, promoting his event ‘The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, And Me: An Intimate Evening With Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’.

The planned tour was to kick off on September 16 2026 and take in dates all over Britain.

Gary announced alongside a recent post that he might be taking his last road trip, feeling he’s getting too old for them. He explained he has plenty of stories to tell, but won’t be sharing any negative or gossipy details about his bandmates. Instead, he’ll be focusing on his own life and experiences, and staying loyal to those he’s worked with. He hopes people will come say hello if he crosses paths with them.

Only six days ago, Mani announced an intimate conversation tour on the band’s website.

He planned to share stories from his career at events throughout the UK from September 2026 to June 2027. He would talk about memorable moments like the famous 1990 Spike Ilsnad concert and the Stone Roses’ return to stadiums.

Reviewers noted Mani’s work would be remembered for its association with iconic moments and imagery – including the ‘Fools Gold’ track, performances at Wembley Stadium and Alexandra Palace, legal battles, fashion choices like bucket hats and Adidas, the album ‘Screamadelica’, and the band ‘The Second Coming’. They suggested this collection represents what people have been anticipating.

Mani, from Crumpsall in Manchester, rose to fame after joining The Stone Roses in the 1980s.

Mounfield played on both of the Stone Roses’ albums and was with the band until it broke up in 1996. He then joined Primal Scream, but in 2011, he left that band to bring the Stone Roses back together.

Read More

2025-12-22 04:50