The Stone Roses is hit by another tragedy as Mani’s beloved wife Imelda dies aged 52 following bowel cancer battle… just weeks after Pete Garner’s death

The Stone Roses bassist Mani’s wife has died aged 52, three years after she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. 

Imelda Mounfield passed away on Saturday. It is the second tragedy to rock the band in recent weeks following bassist Pete Garner’s death. 

Happy Mondays singer Rowetta announced Imelda’s death on X – formerly known as Twitter. 

She said about Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s partner: ‘So beautiful, so brave, so LOVED. We’re all going to miss you Imelda Mounfield.

‘All my thoughts and love to Mani and your beautiful, precious boys and love to all Imelda’s family and friends.’

Tragic: The Stone Roses bassist Mani’s wife has died aged 52, three years after she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer (pictured May 2013)

RIP: Happy Mondays singer Rowetta announced Imelda’s death on X – formerly known as Twitter

The Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, 60, paid tribute to Imelda on X by saying: ‘Rip @imeldamounfield GOD BLESS MANI and his boys X.’

Events agent Imelda was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in November 2020 and the couple have twin sons. 

In the wake of her diagnosis Imelda and Mani have held a string a number of charity fundraisers to raise money for good causes The Christie Hospital, The Stockport Charitable Trust and Maggie’s.

Imelda told ITV last year about how the charities had supported her through her illness battle: ‘Cancer affects not just the person who has it, but everyone around them, and I hope that by investing in some more research, we can help alleviate some of the devastation caused to families.’

Before her and Mani’s latest event, she said Maggie’s had supported them ‘from the start’ by providing counselling sessions and resources to help explain She added: ‘It’s a continuing battle for me, and I’ll be using their services more in the future.’

Imelda also told ITV in December 2022 her diagnosis came as a shock to her and her family as she had not been feeling ‘poorly’.

She added: ‘The doctors didn’t know how I would respond to chemo, but I responded quite well. I’ve been on quite a big journey over the last two years.’

Imelda’s death comes weeks after The Stone Roses’ bassist Pete died aged 61 – also reportedly after a cancer battle.

The musician was the Manchester band’s original bassist but quit the group in 1987 to work in HMV because he did not feel worthy of being in the group.

Tribute: The Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, 60, paid tribute to Imelda on X by saying: ‘Rip @imeldamounfield GOD BLESS MANI and his boys X

Tough: Events agent Imelda was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in November 2020

Icons: The Stone Roses are pictured in 1990 L-R Reni, Mani (top) Ian  (bottom) John. The group split in 1996 but reformed in 2012

Former bandmate Ian Brown led tributes to the late rocker as he claimed ‘few loved music as much’ as Pete.

His cause of death has not been confirmed. 

Responding to a user on X, Ian wrote: ‘Yeah very sad. We were young punk rockers when we met in ’77.’

He continued: ‘The nite before Petes maths and geography O levels we went to see the Clash. Always made me chuckle he did that and of course he made the right decision! X [sic]’

He later added: ‘Few loved music as much as Pete, he been bathing in music since [Sex Pistols’] Anarchy in the UK came out that I can vouch for and Pete was off the scale nice, an old skool nice that ya just don’t get no more! He got that from his lovely Mum! GOD Bless Pete RiP X [sic]’

Pete joined Ian and John Squire in their former band The Patrol in 1980, three years prior to forming The Stone Roses with rhythm guitarist Andy Couzens and drummer Simon Wolstencroft. Alan ‘Reni’ Wren took over from Simon in 1984.

Pete quit the group in 1987 and was replaced by Mani on bass.

The group began to fall apart when Reni quit in April 1995 on the eve of a world tour. Despite rave reviews for Second Coming, the band’s second and final studio album, John also quit the Roses in March 1996.

Old school: The Stone Roses’ Pete (left) died aged 59. Pete’s cause of death has not been confirmed (pictured with drummer Reni, Ian Brown and John Squire) 

Memories: Ian shared his memories of Pete while replying to a fan on X, formerly known as Twitter

New tunes: John Squire is teaming up with Liam Gallagher on a joint album next year which they’ve claimed is ‘the best record’ since The Beatles’ Revolver (pictured in 2007) 

The world tour grossed £1.2million but bad debts meant the group members only earned a few thousand pounds each.

The band were committed to a few final dates, including a disastrous show at Reading Festival, for which they’d turned down offers of help from Slash and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.

In the 15 years after the split, Ian repeatedly blamed John for the band’s demise, saying: ‘If I was in the gutter and my kids lived on the curb, I’d go and get a job at B&Q before I’d reform the Roses.’

Meanwhile, John claimed: ‘I’d rather remove my liver with a teaspoon than reform the Roses.’

However the pair’s friendship rekindled when in 2011 when they attended the funeral of Mani’s mother. Over that summer, Ian was also reconciled with Reni.

The Waterfall hitmakers then reformed in 2012 for a series of massive outdoor concerts and continued to play shows until 2017.

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