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.
The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red.
As he once told us: “I'm a Manc and support United. It was pre-ordained because all my family are Reds - my dad is a nuts fan. He was involved in the club scene around town and he knew Besty.”
The Roses' music has inspired matchday culture over the years, including chants and fashion, which wasn't lost on Mani. “I always wanted the Roses to be associated with United and the terraces,” he said.
Famously, the Crumpsall-born musician sold his prized scooter to attend the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, underlining his commitment to United.
“It was infinitely worth it,”
he explained to our magazine years later.
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.