The family of the late Gary "Mani" Mounfield has officially settled a public dispute regarding a planned tribute concert, confirming that a recent "misunderstanding" over the event's proceeds has been cleared up.
Scheduled for May 30, the tribute show—affectionately titled 'Manichester'—is set to take place at Diecast, a 5,000-capacity venue in the bassist's hometown of Manchester. Mani, celebrated for his legendary work, passed away last November at the age of 63.
Organized in collaboration with Madchester.com and the fashion brand GIOGOI, the event was initially promoted as a fundraiser to support Mani's teenage twin sons, Gene and George, with the purported blessing of his brother Greg. However, the concert's noble intentions were abruptly called into question when Gene took to social media to heavily criticize the organizers.
In a fiery online post, Gene claimed that the fundraiser was a "lie" meant to just take people's money, alleging that the proceeds were going entirely to his "crackhead uncle" and that he and his brother had only been informed of the gig two weeks prior. He further argued that a legitimate charity concert for his father would be spearheaded by major promoters like SJM and held at massive venues such as Co-op Live or Heaton Park.
Following the public fallout, the family has now issued a statement to defuse the tension, assuring fans that the internal friction has been effectively resolved and refocusing attention on honoring the late musician's legacy.
"It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him."
The highly anticipated gig has also generated massive buzz due to swirling rumors of an Oasis appearance. Speculation is rife that Liam and Noel Gallagher may make a joint guest appearance to pay their respects to their longtime friend. The Gallagher brothers previously dedicated a performance of "Live Forever" to their "hero" during their Live '25 tour in Brazil, and Liam was among the notable attendees at Mani's funeral in December.