The Stone Roses bassist 'famously sold his prized scooter to attend the 1999 Champions League final'
Tributes to Gary 'Mani' Mounfield(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Manchester United have paid a touching tribute to Gary 'Mani' Mountfield after the Stone Roses bassist died at the age of 63.
Mounfield - who played bass guitar on both of the Madchester band's albums before joining Scottish rockers Primal Scream - was a huge United fan.
He was often seen at Old Trafford cheering on the reds - and famously sold his prized scooter to attend the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, the club said in its tribute.
Taking to social media on Thursday afternoon, United called Mounfield a 'Manchester music icon' and a 'lifelong Red'. The Stone Roses track 'This Is The One' is played as teams walk out of the tunnel on matchdays at Old Trafford.
They also shared a photograph of Mounfield in a crowd wearing the club's colours. He's pictured in 2011 ahead of the UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.
Mani on stage in 2012
View 3 Images
United posted: "A Manchester music icon and a passionate, lifelong Red. Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of Gary 'Mani' Mounfield."
On their website, United said the club was in Mounfield's 'DNA'.
A statement said: "Manchester United is deeply saddened by the news that Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, the much-loved bass player with The Stone Roses, has passed away aged 63.
"A lifelong Red and friend of the club, Mani rose to prominence as part of the seminal Manchester band of the 1980s and 1990s. He later joined Primal Scream and played with them until rejoining the Roses for a worldwide reunion tour.
"Mani's music continues to be played at every Old Trafford matchday and most notably when 'This is the One' signals the teams walking out of the tunnel. It continued to make him proud when attending fixtures with his family.
Mounfield was 63(Image: PA)
View 3 Images
"The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red. Famously, the Crumpsall-born musician sold his prized scooter to attend the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, underlining his commitment to United. Mani performed to thousands of our supporters when DJing at the fanzone before May’s Europa League final in Bilbao, watched on by loving son Gene.
"A part of Manchester’s history, Mani will be sadly missed by everybody who knew and loved him. The club’s thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."
Mounfield was part of The Stone Roses' classic line-up alongside singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire and drummer Alan 'Reni' Wren.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter on Thursday, Brown posted 'rest in peace Mani' alongside a kiss, while Tim Burgess, lead singer of fellow indie band The Charlatans, said the late musician 'never failed to bring a smile to my face'.
After the Stone Roses broke-up in 1996, citing musical differences, Mounfield joined Primal Scream, first playing on their album Vanishing Point, released a year later, where his bass playing was a key part of krautrock-influenced lead single Kowalski.
Mounfield would go on to record four more albums with the band, before the Roses briefly reformed for a series of homecoming gigs.
The band played a number of UK gigs in 2016 and 2017, including concerts at Manchester’s Heaton Park, Wembley Stadium and Glasgow’s Hampden Park, which would end up being the classic line-up's last concert with Brown telling the crowd: "Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened."
Mounfield also had a guest role in the movie 24 Hour Party People in 2002 and was in the band Freebass, with bass players Andy Rourke of The Smiths and Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order. The group disbanded before releasing their debut album, It’s A Beautiful Life, in 2010.
The bass player was due to embark on a speaking tour in September 2026, called The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, And Me, which was due to see him reflect on his life in rock and roll.
Mounfield married his late wife Imelda after the two met during the 13-month recording of Second Coming at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, and they had two sons together.