Stone Roses, Primal Scream members act as pallbearers for Mani

(left to right, facing) Bobby Gillespie, John Squire and Liam Gallagher, and Ian Brown (left, back to camera) and Alan 'Reni' Wren (right, back to camera) carry the coffin from the funeral service of former Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player Gary <i>(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)</i>
(left to right, facing) Bobby Gillespie, John Squire and Liam Gallagher, and Ian Brown (left, back to camera) and Alan 'Reni' Wren (right, back to camera) carry the coffin from the funeral service of former Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player Gary (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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Stone Roses bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield was laid to rest at Manchester Cathedral, with his coffin carried by his former bandmates.

The musician died at the age of 63 due to complications from emphysema on November 20, drawing tributes from across the music world.

His funeral was held on Monday, with his coffin painted with the 'Bye Bye Badman' artwork by guitarist John Squire which adorns the cover of The Stone Roses' first album.

The group split for a second time in June 2017, but Squire, singer Ian Brown and drummer Alan 'Wreni' Wren were pallbearers at the funeral.

Mani was also a member of Primal Scream and singer Bobby Gillespie joined the former Roses in carrying the coffin alongside guitarist Andrew Innes and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.


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Bez from the Happy Mondays was in attendance, with bandmate Shaun Ryder missing the service with flu, as was former New Order bassist Peter Hook and footballers David Beckham and Gary Neville.

Brown told the service: “One thing we can all agree on is Mani was one of the greatest lads we ever met, one of the greatest men we ever knew. Lucky us.”

Ian Brown, Andrew Innes, Alan 'Reni' Wren and Liam Gallagher (front right) carry the coffin from the funeral service of former Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player Gary Mounfield, (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

The singer said: “Mani was like a brother to me. A dream as a friend. A true musical comrade.”

Brown told the mourners: “We all know Gaz lived his life laughing.

“And laughing was his number one pursuit – always looking for the next laugh, a non-stop laugh machine.”

He said: “Mani’s been in my corner whatever the situation, for 45 years – non-stop, unconditionally. Always a beautiful soul and spirit.”

Brown told the congregation how his friend had loved the same things all his life: “His family, his pals, fishing, football, (Manchester) United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clobber, town, and all the usual gentlemanly pursuits.”

He said: “He lived a full, a fulfilled and a blessed life, going round and round the world lifting people up with his bass guitar skills.”

Brown said there had been a “tsunami of love” for Mounfield since his death last month, adding: “He loved everyone and everyone loves him”, and that “he was the life and soul of wherever he was, making every room he was in brighter”.

He told mourners: “Mani wouldn’t want us to be broken-hearted. But we all are.

“And we’ll never fill the Mani-sized hole that we’re left with.

“It’s such a big loss, it’s hard to find words. Thanks to God we shared our lives with Mani.”

And there were cheers in church when Brown said Mounfield loved Manchester more than anyone, and “few have done so much for this city”, and also called for a 50ft, solid gold statue to be erected of the bassist.

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