'I don't know what Manchester would be without him'

The Stone Roses bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield had a "personality bigger than the stage", according to one of his old bandmates.

Paying tribute to Mani, who died on Thursday aged 63, guitarist Aziz Ibrahim said his friend's skills were "second to none".

"He had charisma, I just admired all that," he added.

"When he was on the stage, he didn't transform into somebody else. Anyone who knew him will say he was consistent in character."

'Severe blow'

Mani's bass playing was an integral part of the Stone Roses' "baggy" sound, said Ibrahim.

Mani joined another seminal group, Primal Scream, in 1996 and played with them for 15 years before reuniting with The Stone Roses for their comeback tour in 2012.

Off stage, Ibrahim said Mani "always accessible - if you met him at [Manchester] United matches, he was always available. He never turned anyone away.

"He was proud of his Mancunian roots, he was proud of his Irish roots, proud of his band and his family.

"I really feel for the family, it's a severe blow. I don't know what Manchester would be without him."

On a personal level, Ibrahim said Mani supported him when he was having doubts about releasing his first solo album.

"Both Mani and his late wife were there for me when I wasn't very confident about it. I was in Oswestry at the time [and they] drove over and gave me all the encouragement I needed.

"He was there for me, I remember that."