Stone Roses Mani, who died last November, to be honoured by Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess , who was a close friend of the star
BRIT Awards bosses are set to honour Stone Roses bassist Mani at Saturday night’s show – led by Charlatans legend Tim Burgess. Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield died suddenly aged 63 last November, and close pal Tim will be on hand to deliver an emotional speech.
A source said: “Tim is set to present the In Memoriam section, but before he does so, he is primed to talk about Mani who was both a dear friend and mentor. The fact that Mani was from Manchester too – and the awards is being held there for the first time – means it will be a really special moment. Mani will then feature heavily in the section, as will other greats we have lost including Ozzy Osbourne.”
Tim has previously spoken of his love for the Stones Roses legend. He said: “I looked up to him so much. He was a pathfinder for so many of us, like an older brother who had blazed a trail.” The Stone Roses broke up in 1996 citing musical differences and Mani joined rock band Primal Scream, who he stayed with for 15 years.
He would go on to record four more albums with the band before leaving in 2011 to reform The Stone Roses. The ceremony will also see Happy Mondays duo Bez and Shaun Ryder reunite as guest presenters to present an award, at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.
The pair, who previously performed at the Brits in 1991, were top of the wish-list for organisers. A source says: “They will hopefully bring some old-school Madchester energy to proceedings…..organisers can’t wait to see them in action. They want the show to be a love letter to Manchester as it’s being held in the city for the first time, and want to channel the city’s brilliant energy.”
As well as featuring in the In Memoriam section, Osbourne will be honoured with a posthumous Brit Awards lifetime achievement award. The singer, known as the Prince of Darkness, died aged 76 in July last year just over two weeks after his Back To The Beginning farewell concert where he was reunited with his bandmates.
There will be a tribute performance, fronted by pop star Robbie Williams, in celebration of his “inimitable impact and influence on music worldwide”. The tribute performance, curated by Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne, will consist of a special arrangement of Black Sabbath’s 1991 song No More Tears, with Williams joined on stage by musicians who have previously played as part of Ozzy’s band, including keyboardist Adam Wakeman, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, drummer Tommy Clufetos and guitarist Zakk Wylde.
Stacey Tang, chairwoman of the 2026 Brit Awards committee, said: “Ozzy Osbourne has been a mighty force in modern music. “Possessing an unmistakable voice and unique presence, he reshaped the sound and spirit of rock, inspiring generations of artists who followed. This lifetime achievement award recognises a remarkable legacy built on originality and enduring influence that continues to connect with fans worldwide.”
The music star died of a reported heart attack on July 22 after suffering a string of health issues over the years, including multiple surgeries following a fall in February 2019 and being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The show, which is presented by Jack Whitehall, will see former One Direction star Harry Styles will return to the Brits stage, where he is expected to open the show with his new song Aperture. Olivia Dean and Lola Young are topping the nominations this year with five nods apiece, whilst Sam Fender trails closely behind with four. Continuing the Manchester theme, Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s Songwriter of the Year award.
Organisers say that his “songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for over 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds..” They added: “His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.”
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