Tim Burgess remembers Mani ahead of Brit Awards as ceremony moves to Manchester

tim burgess said he would pay tribute to his friend Gary “Mani” Mounfield during the In Memoriam at the Brit Awards 2026, as stars gathered on the red carpet at Manchester’s Co-Op Live. The appearance matters now because the awards are being staged in Manchester for the first time after nearly 50 years in London.

Tim Burgess to deliver In Memoriam tribute

Burgess, best known as the frontman of The Charlatans and 58 years old, confirmed he will deliver the In Memoriam tribute to Mounfield. 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 that he would reaffirm Mani’s importance on stage but "won’t be saying anything more than people already know, but I’ll just be reaffirming it on this stage. "

Remembering Gary “Mani” Mounfield and his legacy

Gary "Mani" Mounfield, an original member of the Manchester rock band The Stone Roses, died at the age of 63 in November 2025. Burgess said "the world misses him, and the shockwaves seem to continue" and noted the realisation of "just how much The Stone Roses meant to everybody. "

Red carpet reactions from Shaun Ryder and early arrivals at Co-Op Live

Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, a singer from Greater Manchester, was among those paying tribute on the red carpet and described Mani as "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. " Ryder also said he thinks it is "brilliant" that the award ceremony is being held in the North West for the first time. Other early arrivals at the Manchester Co-Op Live arena included Tallia Storm and US singers Alex Warren and Ashley Roberts.

Brits' move to Manchester after decades in London

Burgess reflected on the awards being held 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 framed memories of Mani and shaped many of the red carpet tributes.

Performances and nominations: Harry Styles, Lola Young and Olivia Dean

The ceremony will include a performance from 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 Harry’s House. Lola Young and Olivia Dean lead the nominations with five each. Dean, 26, is nominated for artist and album of the year, 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.

What tim burgess said about reaffirming Mani’s impact

Summing up why he accepted the invitation to speak, tim burgess said he would not add new revelations but planned to reaffirm Mani’s significance on the Brit Awards stage, underlining both personal loss and the wider influence of The Stone Roses on contemporary British music.