The Stone Roses icon was honoured during tonight’s BRIT Awards following his death last November
Mani was honoured by The Charlatans legend Tim Burgess who delivered a speech during the BRITs(Image: ITV)
A touching tribute has been paid to Stone Roses’ Mani during the BRIT Awards tonight (February 28). The biggest night in British music is being held at Manchester’s Co-op Live – and marks the first time the ceremony has taken place outside London since the awards began in 1977.
During the awards ceremony, which saw performances from the likes of Harry Styles, RAYE and Olivia Dean, Manchester music legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield was honoured by The Charlatans legend Tim Burgess who delivered a speech.
In November last year, the Stone Roses icon died peacefully in his sleep, aged 63, after suffering with ‘respiratory issues’ linked to a long-standing lung condition. His funeral was held at Manchester Cathedral with big music stars such as Liam Gallagher in attendance.
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During the In Memoriam section of the awards ceremony, Tim, 58, came onto the stage as he spoke to the audience and viewers at home.
He began: “I’m here tonight to pay tribute to a good friend of mine. I know he was loved by so many of you here tonight and many more watching on TV. Mani was a kid from a few miles up the road. He changed music and inspired generations ahead of him. These songs he recorded will be his legacy, along with his unforgettable smile and uncontainable enthusiasm.
“He was truly one of the phenomenal ones, and they are far and few between. So, I just want you to think about Mani for a moment,” he said as the crowd cheered.
“We can cherish the thought that we got to experience our time and his time together. Let’s take a few moments to remember Mani and some of the people who we lost in the music industry, who we’ve lost in the last year.”
Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield of the Stone Roses was honoured at the BRIT Awards 2026(Image: PA)
A montage then came on stage to pay tribute to the music icons who have sadly passed.
Prior to delivering his tribute, Tim, best known as the frontman of The Charlatans, said “the world misses” his friend Mani. Speaking to the Press Association on the red carpet ahead of the BRITs, the 58-year-old musician said: “When I was asked (to pay tribute to Mounfield), it was obviously an honour.
“The world misses him, and the shockwaves seem to continue. And then the realisation of just how much The Stone Roses meant to everybody.” He added: “I won’t be saying anything more than people already know, but I’ll just be reaffirming it on this stage.”
The music legend also reflected on the awards ceremony being brought to Manchester for the first time after almost 50 years in London. “I think it’s cool to not be in London, because music is kind of everywhere,” he said. “There’s been amazing bands from Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, amazing bands from Liverpool, Manchester. It’s great.”
The BRITs ceremony also saw Happy Mondays duo Bez and Shaun Ryder reunite as guest presenters to present an award at Manchester’s Co-op Live. Shaun also paid tribute to Mani on the red carpet, as he told PA: “Mani was a beautiful human being, an absolutely beautiful human being. Never mind being a genius bass player, he was just a really beautiful person. I’ve never seen him be unkind to anybody.”
Mani, who lived in Heaton Moor, Stockport, first joined rock band Primal Scream, who he stayed with for 15 years. He then went on to record four more albums with the band before leaving in 2011 to reform The Stone Roses.