Tributes flood in for The Stone Roses star Mani’s beloved wife Imelda after her death aged 52 following bowel cancer battle

Tributes have been flooding in for The Stone Roses star Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s beloved wife Imelda after her death aged 52 was announced on Saturday night.

Imelda passed away over the weekend three years after she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. 

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, saying: ‘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.’

Since kind tributes have been flooding in and on Saturday evening during a show in Blackburn, tribute band The Clone Roses dedicated their performance of This Is The One to Imelda. 

Sad: Tributes have been flooding in for The Stone Roses star Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s beloved wife Imelda after her death aged 52 was announced on Saturday night (seen in 2013) 

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 

While up on stage the band said: ‘This is for Imelda Mounfield, This is the One.’

Elsewhere Manchester-based DJ Mike Tracey has also paid tribute to Imelda. 

He wrote: ‘Rest in eternal peace Imelda Mounfield. such a beautiful soul… god bless you x’.

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

Meanwhile Scottish singer Dot Allison posted: ‘I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Imelda Mounfield …. Rest in love and eternal peace Imelda.’

Elsewhere the bassist for Primal Scream Simone Butler wrote: ‘Rest in eternal peace Imelda Mounfield. my heart breaks for the immediate family and everyone who knew and loved her. 

‘A beautiful soul, a huge heart, cutting humour, the strongest spirit, a mother, a wife, a wonderful human x.’

When Rowetta announced Imelda’s death on Twitter fans rushed to the reply section to send their condolences.

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

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

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

Love: Elsewhere the bassist for Primal Scream Simone Butler wrote: ‘Rest in eternal peace Imelda Mounfield. my heart breaks for the immediate family and everyone who knew and loved her’

Words: Meanwhile Scottish singer Dot Allison posted: ‘I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Imelda Mounfield …. Rest in love and eternal peace Imelda’

Thoughtful: On Saturday evening during a show in Blackburn, tribute band The Clone Roses dedicated their performance of This Is The One to Imelda

One wrote: ‘So sorry for your loss Mani and your lovely family.’ 

A second added: ‘Oh no, I’ve only just heard the news. She was so, so brave. Absolutely heartbroken x.’ 

Meanwhile, a third devastated follower commented: ‘Awful news. My thoughts are with Mani and all his friends and family. Cherish the wonderful times together.’

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.

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.

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.

Support: When Rowetta announced Imelda’s death on Twitter fans rushed to the reply section to send their condolences

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) 

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) 

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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