Gary Mounfield
Encyclopedia
Gary Manny "Mani" Mounfield (born 16 November 1962, Crumpsall
, Manchester), is an English rock
bassist of The Stone Roses
and Primal Scream
. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove. During The Stone Roses first album period Mounfield became synonymous with a Rickenbacker 4005 Jackson Pollock
-influenced paint splattered bass guitar.
in the Rusholme
district of Manchester
. At that time his declared ambition was to be a chef. It was also around this period when Mounfield developed a fanatical interest with darts, a sport he'd come to champion throughout his career. He left school aged sixteen in 1979 and joined the band The Stone Roses
(part of the "Madchester
" music scene) in 1987. Playing on both of the band's albums, Mounfield was in The Stone Roses until they disbanded in 1996, when he joined Primal Scream
who he claimed were one of three bands other than the Roses that he would accept the offer from to become a member (the others are reportedly The Jesus and Mary Chain
and Beastie Boys
). In 2003, with Damon Minchella
having left Ocean Colour Scene
, he toured with the band supporting Stereophonics
, and he also did a DJ set for Ocean Colour Scene at their December 2008 Manchester gig. He is still a full time Primal Scream member, and even fuller-time darts devotee.
He has a guest role in the movie 24 Hour Party People
(2002).
Mounfield has often been viewed as the most amiable member of the Roses, both while the band were still together and since their break-up. Whilst in the past he had claimed that the band would reform only after "Man City
won the European Cup
", he is also viewed as the most likely to be up for a Roses reunion. He occasionally joins Ian Brown
on stage for renditions of Stone Roses songs ("Waterfall", "Made of Stone", "I Am The Resurrection"), as happened in 2008 at Summercase Festival (in Madrid
and Barcelona
), when both Primal Scream
and Brown were playing on the same day.
Recently, Mounfield and ex-Stone Roses drummer Reni
were interviewed for the Manchester Music show on BBC
GMR whilst attending a gig by The Coral
. Mounfield toured with The Enemy
on their UK tour, which even involved a rare partaking in backing vocals.
Mounfield is an enthusiastic Manchester United F.C.
fan. He regularly showcases his love for the team on the Sky One
programme, Football Years, giving his views on football seasons of the past. He also revealed on Play UK
programme Nu Music that he supports Celtic F.C.
in Scotland and, although he is English, he was brought up to support the Republic of Ireland national football team
. He has also appeared on the football programme Soccer AM
numerous times, earning himself a "Hat-trick Ball" from the show as a result.
He is currently in a band called Freebass
with bass players Andy Rourke
(ex-The Smiths
) and Peter Hook
(Joy Division
/New Order
).
Mounfield made a guest appearance on the STV fishing show Trout 'n About along with former Primal Scream
guitarist Throb and presenters Gregor Rankine and Paul Campion as they go trout fishing at Drummond Trout Farm & Fishery in Scotland.
Mounfield appeared at the "Manchester Versus Cancer" event on 30 March 2007, performing a DJ set and appearing with Ian Brown for the finale, which was the Stone Roses classic "I Am The Resurrection
".
He also appeared as a celebrity guest at the 2009 World Darts Championship.
He made a guest appearance at Paul Weller
's performance at the Manchester MEN arena on 4 December 2010, playing tambourine.
After completing touring seminal album Screamadelica
for most of 2011 with Primal Scream
, on 18th October Mani revealed he had left the band to follow his dream due to the reformation of his original band The Stone Roses.
Crumpsall
Crumpsall is a suburban area and electoral ward of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is about north of Manchester city centre...
, Manchester), is an English rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
bassist of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove. During The Stone Roses first album period Mounfield became synonymous with a Rickenbacker 4005 Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
-influenced paint splattered bass guitar.
Biography
Mounfield attended Xaverian CollegeXaverian College
Xaverian Roman Catholic Sixth form College is a College in the city of Manchester.-Admissions:It lies in the inner city suburb of Rusholme close to Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road...
in the Rusholme
Rusholme
-Etymology:Rusholme, unlike other areas of Manchester which have '-holme' in the place name is not a true '-holme'. Its name came from ryscum, which is the dative plural of Old English rysc "rush": "[at the] rushes"...
district of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. At that time his declared ambition was to be a chef. It was also around this period when Mounfield developed a fanatical interest with darts, a sport he'd come to champion throughout his career. He left school aged sixteen in 1979 and joined the band The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
(part of the "Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
" music scene) in 1987. Playing on both of the band's albums, Mounfield was in The Stone Roses until they disbanded in 1996, when he joined Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
who he claimed were one of three bands other than the Roses that he would accept the offer from to become a member (the others are reportedly The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
and Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
). In 2003, with Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella
Damon Minchella is an English bass guitarist, formerly with Ocean Colour Scene, which he left in 2003. He was a regular member of Paul Weller's backing band until 2008, is a member of the supergroup The Players and played for The Who during their performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park.He...
having left Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
, he toured with the band supporting Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
, and he also did a DJ set for Ocean Colour Scene at their December 2008 Manchester gig. He is still a full time Primal Scream member, and even fuller-time darts devotee.
He has a guest role in the movie 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
(2002).
Mounfield has often been viewed as the most amiable member of the Roses, both while the band were still together and since their break-up. Whilst in the past he had claimed that the band would reform only after "Man City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
", he is also viewed as the most likely to be up for a Roses reunion. He occasionally joins Ian Brown
Ian Brown
Ian George Brown is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses, which broke up in 1996 but are confirmed to reunite in 2012. Since the break-up of the Stone Roses he has pursued a solo career...
on stage for renditions of Stone Roses songs ("Waterfall", "Made of Stone", "I Am The Resurrection"), as happened in 2008 at Summercase Festival (in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
), when both Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and Brown were playing on the same day.
Recently, Mounfield and ex-Stone Roses drummer Reni
Alan Wren
Alan John Wren , better known as Reni, is the drummer of The Stone Roses.Reni is considered by many to be the best drummer of his generation and the "single most important drummer in UK indie circles." According to former Hacienda General Manager Howard Jones, he "played the drums like Hendrix...
were interviewed for the Manchester Music show on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
GMR whilst attending a gig by The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
. Mounfield toured with The Enemy
The Enemy (UK band)
The Enemy are an English rock band formed in Coventry in 2006, signed to Warner Music Group . In June 2007, The Enemy played twice at Glastonbury Festival, first in the 'Guardian Lounge' on Saturday and then the much larger 'Other Stage' on Sunday. They also headlined on the Saturday night of T in...
on their UK tour, which even involved a rare partaking in backing vocals.
Mounfield is an enthusiastic Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
fan. He regularly showcases his love for the team on the Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
programme, Football Years, giving his views on football seasons of the past. He also revealed on Play UK
Play UK
Play UK was a television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom as part of the UKTV network of channels. The channel was launched on 10 October 1998...
programme Nu Music that he supports Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in Scotland and, although he is English, he was brought up to support the Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. He has also appeared on the football programme Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
numerous times, earning himself a "Hat-trick Ball" from the show as a result.
He is currently in a band called Freebass
Freebass
Freebass were an English band consisting of, originally, three bassists Andy Rourke , Peter Hook and Gary "Mani" Mounfield and singer Gary Briggs...
with bass players Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
(ex-The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
) and Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
(Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
/New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
).
Mounfield made a guest appearance on the STV fishing show Trout 'n About along with former Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
guitarist Throb and presenters Gregor Rankine and Paul Campion as they go trout fishing at Drummond Trout Farm & Fishery in Scotland.
Mounfield appeared at the "Manchester Versus Cancer" event on 30 March 2007, performing a DJ set and appearing with Ian Brown for the finale, which was the Stone Roses classic "I Am The Resurrection
I Am The Resurrection
"I Am the Resurrection" is a song by The Stone Roses and the final song on the UK version of their debut album.The last four minutes of the song is an instrumental outro. The song is in the key of B Mixolydian. The single was released on March 30, 1992, and reached #33 on the UK Singles Chart...
".
He also appeared as a celebrity guest at the 2009 World Darts Championship.
He made a guest appearance at Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
's performance at the Manchester MEN arena on 4 December 2010, playing tambourine.
After completing touring seminal album Screamadelica
Screamadelica
Screamadelica is the third studio album by the Scottish alternative rock group Primal Scream and was their first to be a commercial success. It was released on 23 September 1991 in the UK by Creation Records, and 8 October 1991 in North America by Sire Records. Screamadelica peaked at #8 on the UK...
for most of 2011 with Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, on 18th October Mani revealed he had left the band to follow his dream due to the reformation of his original band The Stone Roses.
Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Muso Awards Muso Awards The Muso Awards is a charity music award ceremony held in London, England, that began in September 2002. The awards are voted "by musicians, for musicians", and the ceremony features live performances by a variety of artists... – Best Bass Guitar |
| 2005 | Muso Awards Muso Awards The Muso Awards is a charity music award ceremony held in London, England, that began in September 2002. The awards are voted "by musicians, for musicians", and the ceremony features live performances by a variety of artists... – Muso's Muso (as part of Primal Scream Primal Scream Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney... ) |
| 2007 | NME Awards NME Awards The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine.... – Godlike Genius Award (as part of Primal Scream Primal Scream Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney... ) |