Mani R.I.P.

I started this blog last night, still in a state of shock from the news of Mani's death. The news of a hero dying is difficult to take. It feels surreal. I had photos of Mani on my wall, rocking his bass while playing live on the Other Side of Midnight, a performance that would be captured on the bands eponymous debut album sleeve. I had a big poster of the Roses memorably covered in paint, in homage to both Jackson Pollock and the Roses visit to the the offices of FM Revolver, where Mani and his mates covered owner Paul Birch in gloss paint. Payback for repeated re-releases of Sally Cinnamon and a shoddy video that didn't do the song or band justice.

Last night I lay in bed with headphones on watching YouTube clips of the Roses. I'll move on to the Scream in the coming days. But Mani was a Rose. He always will be.

In one of his last interviews, with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt, for their Rockonteurs podcast (a great watch - see below), Mani talks openly of how hard life has been for him since the passing of his beloved wife Imelda a couple of years ago. He also laughs hard when reminiscing about the paint episode with Paul Birch.

Mani fucking loved the Roses. He talks so fondly of them all.

Towards the end of the podcast I cried a few tears as Mani spoke about both Weller and Marr wanting him to play with them and he said he felt he was ready to get out and play again. Sadly, we'll never see the loveable rogue on stage with his massive grin, never feel his rumbling, funky and/or pulsating bass.

I'm glad I caught him with the Roses, the Scream and even with Freebass over the years. 

Heroes can seem indestructible. Mani's death doesn't feel real. It can't be true. Reading obituaries and tributes feels surreal. 

It hit me this afternoon. I was driving home from lunch with my friend Elliott and Craig Charles started talking about Mani, telling a great tale of going out to one pub and then another with him. Oozing fond memories about Mani as a person and his love of life. Then he played Adored and tears fell from my eyes.

Photo by Kevin Cummins

Gary Mountfield, better known, and almost universally known as, Mani, was a larger than life character - on stage, on TV and in person. I know loads of people who met and hung out with Mani over the years - on European always for his beloved Manchester United, and in his native Manchester and second home (for a while) Glasgow. 

Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Mani. He was a delight to be around and was very much a people person. He enjoyed company, chat and antics. Everyone enjoyed his chat, company and antics, his energy was infectious, his cheeky smile was a delight. He had a unique vibe, beautifully positive and up for life.

I think Mani knew how his fans and friends adored him. That's a good thing.

Mani came to my attention through the Stone Roses, a band I described in this blog just last month as - the most perfect band I have ever fallen for. Their music, artwork, hair, clothes, personalities ... 

Mani, Glasgow Rooftops, 1989

I had the good fortune to meet Mani twice. In March 1999, when I ended up going for a couple of pints with him and his friend Phil (Smith, Oasis tour DJ) and then in the summer of 2012 in Amsterdam when I travelled to see one of the Roses first comeback shows.

I've reminisced about that first time (blog here) - when I went for a couple of pints with him one lunchtime after meeting him on Sauchiehall Street - several times since learning of his death. Some say you should never meet your heroes. I'm so glad I met Mani. He didn't have to invite me for a beer after I showed him to the pub he was looking for. He did.

Mani didn't have to answer all my questions about the Roses and the Scream. He did. He was buzzing for his bass on the Scream album that they were working on. Mani's bass was central and crucial to 2000's XTRMNTR. Who needs lead guitar when you have lead bass?!

I was tempted to run across the road to HMV, buy all the Roses records I could afford (even though I had them all) and ask Mani to sign them. But I didn't. (a) it wouldn't have been cool (b) I just basked in the warmth radiating from him.

Primal Scream were a perfect fit for Mani. The friendship he developed with Bobby Gillespie was natural and pure. They always came across as soul brothers. They could both party with the best of them. And by all accounts they did.

Mani was always likely to be the Rose who broke through the thorns to bring the band back together again. Everyone else had fallen out with each other. Their reunion came through heartbreaking circumstances, when difference were put to one side and they all attended Mani's Mums funeral.

No-one wanted a reunion more than Mani - he was very arguably the biggest Roses fan in the world.

The second time I met Mani was after the Roses played Amsterdam in June 2012. It was the night after Reni had walked off stage early. Mani was nursing a pint in a central square and looked like he might have been up all night. He made time for photos with people and I mentioned that we had shared a couple of pints in Glasgow years previously. He thanked me and posed for the photo below.

I loved his sweatshirt so much that my wife tracked one down for my Christmas that year. I still have it.

Look at the beautiful photo below of Mani super charged at Heaton Park. I was there on the Sunday and there were times when the camera honed in on Mani and he looked as if he was partying as much as the crowd :-) 

I'm so glad the Roses reformed and toured the world to make so many people happy.

I'm heartbroken by the news. in recent times I've enjoyed Mani's Instagram posts about the dinners he has been making. His humour shines through.

Tragically, Mani lost his beloved wife Imelda to cancer two years ago (almost to the day), at the age of just 53. They leave behind twin boys who are only 12. My thoughts go out to them, Mani's family, all those closest to him and all fellow fans who are feeling it. 

R.I.P. Mani. Thank you so much for your energy, passion and bass lines. 

The Teenage Fanclub Fanclub at The Doublet

The Teenage Fanclub Fanclub is a community I joined via the bands old message board that was on their website for a long, long time. There was daily content from fellow fans from across the globe - long running threads, humour, politics, the odd dash of football, music recommendations and the running joke during spells of inactivity ... check the news page!

As was the case with so many message boards, things navigated towards social media and the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub Facebook group has brought even more people together!

Over time, I've met and become friends with many fellow Fanclub Fanclub members. It's a very friendly and supportive community.

The Fanclub Fanclub has recorded a number of tribute albums over the years. I'm delighted and proud to have played a part in the recent What They Do To Me trilogy of tributes. Volume 3 (post Creation years, solo and side projects) came out earlier this year, largely thanks to the drive and patience of Gill Ross, along with the brilliant Mark Rolfe of Winnetka Records and a pool of talented fans.

Gill was determined to bring everyone together for a launch party and yesterday it happened! What an amazing day of music, friendship, community and generosity for a good cause. Proceeds from the album (available by donation), ticket sales and raffle proceeds all went to Tiny Changes.

Here is a little blog on what happened.

Bands assembled from 1pm and there was time for quick line checks, with the very lovely Kenny doing a grand job on sound engineer duties. Doors opened at 2.30pm and after a nice Guinness Zero and a blether outside in the sunshine, I was back in for Michael Vickers, who has designed the covers for the What They Do To Me trilogy, starting things off. 

Michael goes under the guise of My Cover Story and he chose his covers well - including Alison's Starting To Happen and Rudderless by The Lemonheads, Thirteen and The Ballad of El Goodo by Big Star. Michael's fingers danced effortlessly up and down his guitar and he also made clever use of a loop pedal.

Covering Slow Fade and Getting Real by Teenage Fanclub was joyful, but there was a surprise! Duglas T Stewart of the BMX Bandits joined Michael for a beautifully tender take on Serious Drugs. December closed a cracking set.

What a start to the day!

Seahorse Migration (amazing band name!) were on next. The duo of Neil and Matthew created some beautiful music, playing some of their own songs, some covers I didn't know - to the extent I messaged Neil to get his setlist, some I did and a couple of Fanclub numbers. 

Seahorse Migration setlist

Sweet Days Waiting (Fanclub), Survival Car (Fountains of Wayne), new song (namesless and original), Gun (Uncle Tupelo), Waving (Bevis Frond), another new song (also nameless and original), Head Rolls Off (Frightened Rabbit), Every Sweet Soul (Tobin Spout), Up The Wolves (Mountain Goats) and Speed of Light (Fanclub).

Seahorse Migration's take on Frightened Rabbit's Head Rolls Off was sublime, soulful and very apt given our choice of charity. Here we all were, alive, and making tiny changes to earth.

Neil, hailing from the Isle of Lewis, sounds amazing when he talks, even better when he sings. His friend Matthew on lead guitar coaxed all kinds of shimmery sounds and riffs. It was a lovely set and I hope he names and records his original songs. Check their covers. The Fountains of Wayne song is ace.

Next up was Beckie Rahman and friends, also known as the lo-fi hi 5. They recorded a swoon-y take on Lightships Sunlight To The Dawn for volume 3. It's very possibly my favourite Lightships song and I loved their chilled take on it. 

Joined by friends Sheila McConnell on harmonies and tambourine and Mairead Hughes Green on penny whistle, the lo-fi hi 5 melted hearts with their covers of The Beatles Blackbird and Something - helped out by the crowd for the guitar solo on the latter.

Planets by Teenage Fanclub oozed the kind of warmth required for a Sunday afternoon down the pub in November. Gorgeous. Beckie's friends had come over from Ireland and it is safe to say that they loved Glasgow and it was great when Mairead won a couple of prizes in the raffle later on. 

On to headliners Broken by Rock who had the added bonus of live drums to take things up a notch. Their set was laden with Fanclub songs to please the crowd.  

Broken by Rock setlist

Candyfloss (Jonny), Older Guys (Flying Burrito Brothers/Teenage Fanclub), It's All In My Mind, Start Again (Fanclub), Videostore (original), Radio (Fanclub)

Candyfloss off the superb Jonny album, that Norman and Euros released way back in 2011, got things off to a flyer with Alan's wife Rachel singing harmonies and backing vocals. Alan (guitar and vocals), Andrew (bass) and Derek (drums) raced through the set with a real zip. Videostore (blogged on here) may be my alt pop song of the year. It's super catchy and had people singing a-long. While Radio was an absolute joy - guitar power pop perfection. Alan has a naturally melodic voice and can turn his hand to anything - a top guy and musician.

Alan, Derek and I recorded under the guise of Acer Trees for the third of the tribute albums. I do hope to record an EP or mini-album of originals with them one day. We have exchanged demos.

In the meantime, I got to join Broken by Rock for a 4-song set of; Mellow Doubt, So Far Gone, Crush On You and then The Charlatans classic The Only One I Know. The trio are excellent musicians and it was a joy to practice and play with them. 

I was having fun with Jad Fair and the Fanclub's Crush On You and pointed to people in the crowd while singing I've got a crush on you ... only to turn and point to Alan's daughter! And then his wife! Very funny!A funky skiffle busk through The Only One I Know seemed to go down well with Alan, Andrew and Derek locking into the groove.

There was just time to play a suitable song to end the day. Broken by Rock were joined by members of two of Glasgow's hottest young bands - Ben and Christopher from Fatale and Becky from Vanderlye for harmonies, while Rachel was back for some melodica action.

Fatale (09/01) and Vanderlye (24/01) have both just announced headline shows at King Tuts in January.

The Concept is quintessential Teenage Fanclub. The guitars, the melodies, the harmonies, the humour ... Broken by Rock and guests captured all of that and more. Del's mini drum solo to usher in the extended outro was glorious. It was a fitting end to a very memorable day.

We have raised over £1,000 for Tiny Changes through album sales (donations), tickets and the raffle. I'll update this total once it is confirmed.

Thanks to all who contributed to the trilogy (we need to make it a quadruple - right?!), donated money and prizes, came down to The Doublet and got up and played.

Never Ending Mixtape part 104

Welcome to part 104 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

I started this blog/playlist/mixtape back in October 2016 with the simple intention of creating a playlist that I would add songs to on a regular basis and then blog about the latest additions every month.

There would be no thought to the structure of the playlist, unlike the mixtapes and CD's I would make in my younger days. I'd just add songs when I felt like it, depending on what I was listening to.

As a result, my Never Ending Mixtape jumps from 4,588 songs to 4,651 with the addition of a David Holmes remix of Delakota's I Think I Caught.

You'll find a few of the additions listed below. There are loads of new discoveries and new releases. Check the magnificently named Kids On A Crime Spree! (Pictured above under The Beatles)

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Recent discoveries

Liquid Gold 25 by Jacob Alon

Rainbow Chaser by Nirvana

Look At The Sun by Felt 

I Don't Want to Call You Baby ... Baby by Kids On A Crime Spree

Feeling Fine by Ocie Elliott

New releases

Happy With You by Big Thief

How Can I Tell You by Brook Coombe

Brand New Me by Saint Etienne

Everybody Laughs by David Byrne

If I Had A Boat by Kieron Hebden and William

Cobra by Geese

One Hand Free by Ezra Furman

Old favourites

Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz and De La Soul

Half the World Away by Oasis

Everybody'a Gotta Live by Arthur Lee

Drivin' on 9 by The Breeders

She's A Rainbow by The Rolling Stones

Hey Bulldog by The Beatles

Keep Your Dreams by Primal Scream

Fatale at McChuills

Fatale played their first ever headline show at McChuills on Friday night - Halloween. As singer Ben Robertson pointed out when thanking everyone for coming, it felt like the band had come full circle. McChuills was where they played their first gig, back in May. Now, just shy of 6-months later, they had sold it out.

After playing King Tuts Summer Nights in July, a venture through to Edinburgh in September and then Tenement Trail in October, it definitely feels like Fatale are on the rise.

Tenement Trail was great, but this was the best I have seen the band. A headline slot gave them longer to play with, so a packed McChuills was treated to a 45-minute, 11-song set.

Making the most of the screen behind the stage, Fatale came on and fuzzed up their guitars for opening number September. The visuals of logos behind them added to the vibe and a hyped up, dressed up Halloween crowd were well up for it. There was a definite sense of occasion to the night.

The Vaselines Molly's Lips was played next and they tore through it, Robertson was in the crowd at times, bouncing a-long with them. Another Sunrise, with the brilliant hook I'm going out tonight, is becoming more familiar to me with every gig. Definite future single potential.

Speaking of hooks and single potential, new song By The Tide is another that I look forward to hearing again soon. The hook I don't care about what's going on is one I would have loved to have sung as a teenager, but it feels just as relevant to me now. 

A cover of the Mary Chain's Taste of Cindy was a glorious riot. Scuzzed and fuzzed up guitars. Top marks to the couple (pictured below - parents of Adam from support band Bogle) dressed as Jesus and Mary Chained! 

Bogle were on first and their set mixed songs that sounded like early Pink Floyd with songs that sounded like the early Ride EP's. They can play! I'm way more into Ride than Floyd, so those songs were my personal favourites. I really enjoyed their dreamy shoegazey guitars and harmonies. I'll hopefully write a blog on them sometime soon. Their debut EP Shimmer Guitar Pop was aptly named. Also hailing from Lanarkshire, I hope to catch them again soon.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, Fatale singer Ben Robertson had been wandering around dressed as Christ (or now I come to think of it - was he Caesar?)  earlier. He had changed into stagewear for the show but kept his crown of thorns on. I assumed it was Christ because of Fatale's brilliant song Jesus Christ - a song that left its mark on me after I first heard it back at their Tuts show in the summer.

The guitars of Euan and Christopher collide gloriously, there are more hooks than Rocky Bilbao fighting at his peak. Most bands would love to have the verses to this tunes as choruses! The bridges/pre-chorus are even catchier and then there is the chorus itself;

Jesus Christ knocked on my door

Just let me sleep ten minutes more

Coming out with songs of praise

Righteousness lost in the haze

With Han Solo (James) driving things along furiously and beautifully on drums and bassist Oscar in the groove, this is a delicious slice of guitar punk pop. 

How could I hold my head up when you're down

How can I stand the world when you're not around

The little fuzz bass break after the middle eight is superb. Then it's straight back into the chorus for a final blast. Think God Knows It's True era Fanclub meeting The Undertones for a couple of pints of Guinness and then having a jam. Catchy guitar brilliance.

Ending with their (fast becoming) traditional one-two of their demos (CHECK THEM HERE) and currently the only material they have released.

I'd never have thought that The Velvets Femme Fatale would become a sing-a-long anthem for teenagers in 2025, but Fatale are making it one! Their (largely young) crowd lapped it up.

Ben announced that set closed Moves You will be released as their debut single in the very near future. The band tore through it, slowing things beautifully for a breakdown. 

Understand what I'm going through, tried to paint, but it's never you

Understand what I'm going through, tried to paint, but it's never you

It's never you

After another chorus and searing and soaring guitar solo, it's back into the groove with a verse and the catchy hook that is the chorus.  

Keep an eye on Fatale's Instagram for updates.