Oasis Halts Final Tour Show for Moving Tribute
Britpop legends Oasis delivered an emotional and unexpected moment during their concert in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, pausing their performance to honour the memory of The Stone Roses bassist, Gary 'Mani' Mounfield. The touching tribute occurred during the final dates of the band's highly anticipated reunion tour, stunning the packed audience.
A Stage Bathed in Memory
As the band launched into their iconic anthem, 'Live Forever', the entire screen behind the stage was suddenly filled with a single, powerful image: a photograph of the late Gary 'Mani' Mounfield. Frontman Liam Gallagher was visibly moved, turning to look at the picture of his friend before leading the crowd in a round of applause as the song concluded. The poignant image remained displayed until the band began their next track, 'Rock 'N' Roll Star'.
The musical bond between the bands was profound. Mani's last public appearance had been alongside Liam Gallagher just weeks earlier, on October 10, when they attended the funeral of boxer Ricky Hatton in Manchester.
A Sudden Loss and Outpouring of Grief
The music world was shaken by the news that Gary Mounfield died at his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, on Thursday. It is understood he collapsed following a seizure. Family sources confirmed that an ambulance was called, but he could not be revived.
The Gallagher brothers were informed of the tragic news on Thursday afternoon, just hours before Mani's brother, Greg, made a public announcement. Sources close to the band said Noel and Liam were 'absolutely heartbroken'.
In the days following his passing, tributes flooded in from across the industry. Liam Gallagher posted on X: 'In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani. My hero RIP RKid. LG.' Noel Gallagher simply stated, 'RIP Brother. It was a pleasure to have known you.' Former Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs also shared his grief, posting 'RIP Mani' with a red heart.
The Stone Roses' official social media account shared a throwback photo, writing: 'RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for. X'. Lead singer Ian Brown, 62, added his own tribute, posting 'Rest In Peace Mani' on his personal page.
This devastating loss comes just two years after the death of Mani's wife, Imelda, from cancer. Imelda, who was mother to their twin sons, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer three years prior.
In a cruel twist of fate, only six days before his death, Mani had announced plans for an intimate conversation tour across the UK, scheduled to run from September 2026 to June 2027. The tour was set to be a retrospective of his storied career, reminiscing about iconic moments like the 1990 Spike Island gig and the band's comeback stadium tour.
Mani, who was born and raised in Manchester, left school at 16 to pursue music. He rose to fame with The Stone Roses in the 1980s, playing on both of their seminal albums before the band initially disbanded in 1996. He later enjoyed a successful tenure with Primal Scream, before leaving in 2011 to reform The Stone Roses.
