In Manchester, music and football stars attend the funeral of Stone Roses bassist “Mani”

The Stone Roses is like a religion in Manchester, a large industrial city in the northwest of England. Since the mid-1980s, the alternative rock group from the Timperley district has brought the town and its surroundings to life. His single This is the Onefrom the album The Stone Roses (1989), even became the entrance anthem for Manchester United players at the legendary Old Trafford stadium. Monday morning, the great faces of Mancunian music and football gathered to pay a final tribute to Gary Mounfield, known as “Mani”, former bassist of the British group, who died on November 20 at the age of 63 at his home in Stockport.

The funeral of the musician, founder of the Stone Roses alongside Ian Brown and John Squire, was held at Manchester Cathedral on Monday in front of hundreds of fans. Daily life The Guardian noted the presence of Liam Gallagher, member of Oasis, Paul Weller, one of the founders of the group The Jam, Peter Hook, bassist of Joy Division, Tim Burgess, singer of the Charlatans, Bez, ex-member of Happy Mondays and David Beckham and Gary Neville, former glories of Manchester United.

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The Stone Roses – This Is the One (1989)

“Few people have done so much for this city”

The coffin of the deceased, then decorated in the colors of the album The Stone Roseswas carried by fellow Stone Roses Ian Brown, John Squire and Alan “Reni” Wren. Liam Gallagher, too, took him outside the cathedral after the ceremony, as did Primal Scream band members Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes. During his speech, singer Ian Brown said Mani was “one of the best guys” that he didn’t have “never met”but also “a brother, a dream friend, a true classmate”. “We all know Gary lived his life laughinghe continued, according to comments reported by the English press. He was always looking for the next laugh. He was an inexhaustible laughter machine. »

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The Stone Roses singer also praised “the beautiful soul and the beautiful spirit” of his counterpart and took the opportunity to recall the many passions of Gary Mounfield, namely “his family, his friends, fishing, football, Manchester United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clothes, the city and all the usual activities of a gentleman”. According to him, Mani loved Manchester more than anyone. He also thinks that “few people have done so much for this city” and hopes to one day see the erection of a 15 meter solid gold statue in his memory.