A TOP record producer who started out as a 16-year-old at Rockfield Studios has spoken of his shock over the sudden death of Stone Roses bassist and friend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.

Nick Brine had just finished his GCSEs at Monmouth Comprehensive in the early 1990s when he landed a job at the studios, which he thought he'd try over the summer holidays before probably going on to sixth form.

But no sooner had he started, and the legendary Manchester band walked through the doors and stayed for 14 months recording thir second album, closely followed by Oasis, changing his life.

Bassist Mani's 'infectious' personality and "brilliant" musicianship made him a close friend, and Nick said his unexpected passing two weeks ago had left him and many others "devastated".

"I was sat in the studio recording with chart-topping band Dodgy and we’d just been talking about Mani and the Roses at the time when one of them said they'd seen something posted about Mani dying.

"Then my phone started pinging and we got a message from his brother confirming the news.

"It was a terrible shock and it turned into a sombre day in the studios remembering stories of him."

The Roses star had announced a 2026 “Evening With...” tour just two days earlier, including a September date at the Savoy in Monmouth, where he became well known during his time recording here and popping back for visits.

"I'd messaged him that day about his tour and hoping to set something up. It's so sad. I loved him, people loved him.

"I was in a band as a teenager, and The Roses were my Beatles, and I got to work with them and become friends with them!

“He and they meant so much to me and so many others. I don't know whether they'd have ever toured again, but now one of them's gone, and we're devastated."

Nick said Mani became a huge part of his life and he had introduced him to lots of people in Monmouth.

"He just became a Monmouth lad. Loads knew him, in the pubs and shops. He became friendly with lots of local people, he was just Mani to everyone.”

And his musicianship was second to none, up there with the best bassists in the world, added Nick, who has also worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen at the Hit Factory in New York.

"The Roses started that whole 1990s thing, with Rockfield becoming the birthplace of Brit Pop, and basically shaped Indie music through to today, that's how big their influence was. And part of that was Mani's brilliant bass playing.

"His bass lines were so good, you sang them. That mix of melody and groove – Mani was a rhythm machine, who created incredible grooves, and he knew how to create that engine along with drummer Reni (Alan Wren).

"And he had an infectious personality, you can see that when he performed.

"He had so much more to give, and it's just really sad that he's gone."