The band paid tribute to Mani during their gig in Manchester
By Elizabeth Aubrey 21st November 2025
English Teacher. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
English Teacher have paid tribute to The Stone Roses’ bass player Mani, playing ‘Waterfall’ in Manchester this evening (November 20).
- READ MORE: Gary “Mani” Mounfield, 1962-2025: baggy bass hero whose melodies made the Madchester movement
The Mercury Prize winning band paid their respects to the legendary bassist, who died today, aged 63, by playing the intro to one of The Stone Roses’ most beloved hits, ‘Waterfall’ mid-set, in between songs ‘Albatross’ and ‘This Is A Good Age’. The band were playing in Mani’s hometown, Manchester this evening, at The Albert Hall.
Check out fans’ reactions about the moment here:
English Teacher are on at the Albert Hall this evening and inbetween songs played a little homage to the stone roses as of Mani passing today. That is class.
— Kev Granelli (@KevTheRev2023) November 20, 2025
Earlier in the evening, The Libertines shared archival footage of themselves playing ‘Waterfall’ as part of a tribute to Mani.
The band shared footage from the time they covered The Stone Roses’ iconic hit ‘Waterfall’ during a gig in Manchester in 2024, also at the city’s Albert Hall. Posting the footage on Instagram, the band wrote: “Truly heartbreaking news, this one’s for you Mani.”
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Mani, real name Gary Mani Mounfield, originally found fame as bassist for the Stone Roses, joining in 1987 and playing on both their iconic albums, until they first disbanded in 1996. He then went on to join Primal Scream and stayed with them until 2011, when the Stone Roses reformed.
In 2016, The Stone Roses released two singles with ‘All For One‘ and ‘Beautiful Thing‘. They remained together for a few years, before disbanding once more in 2017 after the old tensions recurred. It has now been 30 years since the Manchester legends released a record, with their last full-length LP ‘Second Coming’ dropping in 1994.
In 2019, John Squire confirmed the reunion was over for good, telling The Guardian that the band had officially come to an end, and later that year Ian Brown released his seventh solo album ‘Ripples‘.
Mani was born in Crumpsall, Manchester on 16 November, 1962. He died nearly two years to the day of the passing of his wife Imelda, who died on November 18, 2023. The couple shared twin boys, Gene and George, 12, who were born in January 2013.
Earlier today, news of his passing was shared by Mani’s brother Greg, who wrote: “IT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE SAD PASSING OF MY BROTHER GARY MANI MOUNFIELD,” he posted on social media, as Manchester Evening News reports. “RIP RKID.”
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Tributes for the beloved bass player have poured in on social media from fans and fellow musicians.
Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown led the tributes with a simple: “REST IN PEACE MANi X”, while The Stone Roses also paid tribute from their official account, writing: “RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for.”
Primal Scream shared a picture of Mani on their Instagram, while the band’s bassist Simone Butler wrote: “Truly in shock at this. An incredible loss to everyone who knew and loved him. The moment u met Mani u loved him. The most brilliant and wickedly sharp sense of humour and the biggest heart and generosity…My heart is breaking for his boys , family and loved ones. Was meant to see him tmro in Manchester.”
New Order also paid tribute, saying: “We are really sorry and shocked to hear of the passing of Mani. He was a great guy, good fun and a father to two boys. Long may he live in the hearts and minds of all his family, friends and fans.”
Courteneers frontman Liam Fray shared a heartfelt tribute too, writing: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Mani. This is what true sadness feels like. Everyone who knew you will miss you so much. Thank you for the good times, every one of them was a privilege. Thinking of all your family and friends. Rest in Peace Brother.”
You can read these and many more tributes from the likes of Elbow, Richard Ashcroft, Tim Burgees and Peter Hook here.
Meanwhile, fans have also been sharing footage from Mani’s last gigs with The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. You can check out footage from these, and the set lists, here.
