Tim Burgess remembers Mani as stars gather for Brit Awards 2026
tim burgess remembered his friend Gary “Mani” Mounfield on the red carpet as stars arrived ahead of the Brit Awards 2026, saying "the world misses him" and preparing to pay tribute during the ceremony's In Memoriam section. The remarks came as performers and nominees converged in Manchester for the first time after decades in London.
Tim Burgess on stage duties and his personal connection to Mani
Tim Burgess, best known as the frontman of The Charlatans, will pay tribute to Gary "Mani" Mounfield during the In Memoriam section of the awards ceremony. Speaking on the red carpet, the 58-year-old said: "When I was asked (to pay tribute to Mounfield), it was obviously an honour. "
He added: "The world misses him, and the shockwaves seem to continue. " Burgess also said: "I won’t be saying anything more than people already know, but I’ll just be reaffirming it on this stage. "
Gary 'Mani' Mounfield's death and The Stone Roses legacy
Mounfield, an original member of Manchester rock band The Stone Roses, died at the age of 63 in November 2025. Burgess reflected on the scale of the loss, saying: "And then the realisation of just how much The Stone Roses meant to everybody. "
Red carpet tributes from Shaun Ryder and other arrivals at Co-Op Live
Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder was among those paying tribute on the red carpet. Ryder, from Greater Manchester, said: "Mani was a beautiful human being, an absolutely beautiful human being. Never mind being a genius bass player, he was just a really beautiful person. I’ve never seen him be unkind to anybody. " He also called it "brilliant" that the ceremony is being held in the North West for the first time.
Artists including Tallia Storm and US singers Alex Warren and Ashley Roberts were among early arrivals at Manchester’s Co-Op Live arena ahead of the show.
Brits move to Manchester after nearly 50 years in London
Burgess reflected on the awards being staged in Manchester for the first time after nearly 50 years in London, saying: "I think it’s cool to not be in London, because music is kind of everywhere. There’s been amazing bands from Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, amazing bands from Liverpool, Manchester. It’s great. " The change of venue was repeatedly noted by artists arriving on the red carpet.
Performances and nominations: Harry Styles, Lola Young and Olivia Dean
The ceremony will include a performance from former One Direction star Harry Styles. Styles will perform music from his upcoming fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, which is due for release on March 6. The appearance comes three years after his last performance on the Brits stage at the awards in 2023, when he took home four gongs following the release of his album Harry’s House.
Singers Lola Young and Olivia Dean lead the award nominations with five each. Dean, 26, is nominated for artist and album of the year and for pop act, and has two chances at winning song of the year for "Man I Need" and "Rein Me In", the latter thanks to a guest spot with Sam Fender.
