Mani slams 'sellout' Hook as Freebass split

Gary 'Mani' Mounfield has hit out at his ex-Freebass bandmate Peter Hook as the group announced their split.

A statement on the band's official website read that "the much anticipated Mancunian union of bassists, Freebass, is no longer a functioning group".

It continued: "Recent events have made Freebass entirely unviable as a band, and with this in mind, it has been decided that the project should be shelved, rather than placed on hiatus while members pursue their other interests."

In a series of posts on Twitter, Mani suggested that the band's split was rooted in Hook's decision to tour the 1979 album Unknown Pleasures he recorded with Joy Division.

"3 things visible from space, great wall of china, peter hooks wallet stuffed with ian Curtis blood money, man citys empty trophy cabinet ! (sic)," Mani said.

"He ain't got time for me now he's getting fortunes for dragging his mates cadaver round the world getting himself paid. Thank f**k."

He added: "Used to adore the man, now he's a self centred sellout reduced to hawking his mates corpse around to get paid. And he can't play.

"I'm fine, dunno about the vulture who is ravenously devouring the last morsels of putrid flesh from Wilson/Curtis bones.

"I'm getting back with the "real"players tomorrow thank f**k. Can't be doing with talentless nostalgia f**kwit wh*res."

Mani also claimed that he used to laugh at Hook's "one trick pony s**te 2 string bass playing", before later adding: "Everything is ok. I shouldn't air my laundry in public. Meltdown time. I need to give this game up, I can't trust nobody anymore."