RIP Pete Garner (1962-2023)

Original bass guitarist in The Stone Roses

Of all the reasons for leaving a band, Pete Garner’s excuse for quitting The Stone Roses was one of the most noble: he “didn’t feel worthy to be in a band.”

At the time of his departure in 1987 Garner, who died this week at the age of 61, had spent four years playing bass guitar with his friends from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys – Ian Brown and John Squire – and recorded two singles, including Sally Cinnamon.

The three schoolfriends had met a decade earlier when they were young punks. Garner, who was first inspired by The Sex Pistols and went to see The Clash the night before two of his O-levels, stood in on bass at the final gig of Squire and Brown’s previous band, The Patrol, in 1980.

He kept the job when The Stone Roses formed three years later, alongside new arrivals Andy Couzens on rhythm guitar and Simon Wolstencroft on drums. Alan ‘Reni’ Wren later replaced Wolstencroft in 1984, the year they played their first gig in October.

Garner and Reni played on their debut single, the double A-side So Young / Tell Me the following year: it’s a primitive affair, quite different from what would become their signature sound, which they first displayed on Sally Cinnamon in the summer of 1987.

A month after its release Garner announced his departure, simply because as the Roses’ reputation grew he believed he wasn’t good enough for them.

By all accounts a lovely fellow, he even taught his replacement Rob Hampson the bass parts before leaving, though Hampson would soon leave too, to be replaced by Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield later in 1987.

RIP Pete Garner (1962-2023)