Tim Burgess Honors Stone Roses’ Mani Before the Brit Awards
Musician Tim Burgess has paid heartfelt tribute to his late friend, Gary “Mani” Mounfield, as stars arrived for the Brit Awards 2026. Mounfield, the original bassist of The Stone Roses, passed away at the age of 63 in November 2025. Burgess, frontman of The Charlatans, will honor Mounfield during the In Memoriam segment of the ceremony.
Tributes to Mani Mounfield
Burgess expressed his deep admiration for Mounfield, saying, “The world misses him, and the shockwaves seem to continue.” He highlighted the profound impact The Stone Roses had on music and culture. “It’s an honor to pay tribute,” he added, committing to reaffirm Mounfield’s legacy on stage.
Shaun Ryder, frontman of Happy Mondays, also shared his sentiments on the red carpet. He described Mounfield as “a beautiful human being” and a “genius bass player,” emphasizing his kindness and generosity.
Brit Awards 2026 Highlights
This year’s Brit Awards marks a significant change as it is held in Manchester for the first time, after nearly 50 years in London. Burgess expressed excitement over this location change, noting that great music comes from various regions across the UK.
Performers and Nominations
The ceremony features performances by Harry Styles, who is set to deliver tracks from his upcoming album, Kiss All The Time. Styles won four awards in 2023 and is again a prominent figure this year.
Leading the nominations are:
- Lola Young – five nominations including artist of the year and best song.
- Olivia Dean – also with five nominations, including best album and song of the year.
Additional highlights include:
- Pulp’s first nomination in 30 years for best group.
- Sam Fender, last year’s Mercury Prize winner, securing four nominations.
- Lily Allen is nominated three times for her album West End Girl.
Awards and Recognition
Several advance winners have been announced, including Noel Gallagher, set to receive the Songwriter of the Year award. Mark Ronson will be recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Music, while PinkPantheress is honored as Producer of the Year, making history as the youngest and first female recipient of this accolade.
The event will be hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall and broadcast live on ITV and ITVX at 8:15 PM.
