The band's lead singer Ian Brown has led the tributes to Garner on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He wrote: "Very sad. We were young punk rockers when we met in 77. The nite [sic] before Petes maths and geography O levels we went to see the Clash. Always made me chuckle he did that and of course he made the right decision!"

Brown added: "Few loved music as much as Pete he been bathing in music since [Sex Pistols'] Anarchy in the Uk came out that i can vouch for and Pete was off the scale nice, an old skool nice that ya just dont get no more! He got that from his lovely Mum! GOD Bless Pete RiP X."

Music journalist John Robb wrote that Garner was a "lovely man" and it was "always a joy to meet him".

"I met him before I even met you," Robb also said in a conversation with Brown on X, adding: "Will miss our amigo."

Garner was in the band from 1983 to 1987, playing on songs including So Young, Tell Me and Sally Cinnamon.

He quit the group and was replaced by Rob Hampson before long-term bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield took over at the end of 1987.

According to music publication Louder Than War, Garner left The Stone Roses to work at HMV because he believed he wasn't good enough to be in the band.

Garner met Ian Brown and guitarist John Squire at school and stepped in as the bassist for the last performance of their teenage band The Patrol, the outlet reported.

He was recruited for The Stone Roses three years later along with Andy Couzens on rhythm guitar and Simon Wolstencroft on drums. Alan 'Reni' Wren replaced Wolstencroft in 1984.