Tributes are pouring in to an out and out Manc legend – Alfonso “Fonzo” Buller

14:07, 03 Feb 2026Updated 14:56, 03 Feb 2026

Tributes have been paid to Alfonso “Fonzo” Buller, Manchester MVITA legend. Pictured here with Ian Brown and Liam Gallagher(Image: @AlfonsoBuller)

Tributes are pouring in for “true Manchester legend” Alfonso “Fonzo” Buller who has died aged 65. Fonzo was famed for originating the Manc swagger and the phrase “Manchester Vibes in the Area” which was adopted by successive generations of musicians and creatives.

Oasis star Liam Gallagher has been among those leading the tributes, posting on his X account on Tuesday morning: “RIP FONZO MVITA REWIND.” He later added: “COME IN COME IN” in a further nod to Fonzo’s phrases.

Liam had used the slogan “Manchester Vibes in the Area” to introduce the band onto stage during every night of their global blockbuster tour Oasis Live 25 across last year. Oasis guitarist Bonehead also added to the tributes saying simply: “MVITA”, while Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown continued the tributes saying: “Rest in Peace Alfonso Buller a King and Lion of Manchester X Love to the family and his many friends.”

Alfonso, who grew up in Withington, was behind the musical sound system MVITA started in the 1980s and 90s in West Didsbury, and was renowned for his joyous dance moves and flips, appearing on stage with a host of stars over the years. He has been hailed a catalyst in Manchester music history, influencing the likes of Liam Gallagher and Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, and was loved across the city and beyond.

Liam Gallagher and Fonzo(Image: @AlfonsoBuller)

Music star Rowetta paid tribute saying: “Always a real gentleman, so supportive of me & so many others. His natural energy & positivity was something I had been yearning for for years & I’ll never forget that & so many other great memories.

“Love to all the family. He was unique & supportive of others. I’ll always smile when I think of Alfonso Buller but once again taken far too young. Manchester Vibes In The Area #MVITA“

The Tony Wilson Archive shared a black and white image of Fonzo with Liam Gallagher, with Tony’s son Oliver hailing him a “Key architect of the Manchester Vibe,” sharing his words: “Come in! Come over! Don’t be shy.”

Bez shared a photo with Alfonso saying: “Fonso! Things are going to be alot quieter now.”

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Alfonso’s friend and manager Alan Ingram said: “I’ve known Fonzo since I was 10, he was a cricket captain, so was I, he was at Cavendish Road and I was at Old Moat. That’s when we first met, as cricket captains we shook hands, and then we went to Wilbraham High School together and we’ve been friends ever since.

“I was the manager in the early days of MVITA from the early days in 86 into the 90s, I was managing him, looking after MVITA, we’ve been friends ever since. I spoke to him only a couple of days ago, he’d not been too well recently but I’m absolutely shocked and gutted, I can’t believe it to be honest with you.”

Alan fondly recalled the years gigging with Fonzo, from the start of MVITA at The Midland pub (now The Met) in West Didsbury, through to DJ nights and on to Glastonbury. Alan said: “He was on the Pyramid stage for six years running, not officially, but with Stone Roses, Joe Cocker, Finley Quaye, Simply Red – he was on stage with all of them together with Himat Singh the percussionist in MVITA.

“Fonzo in recent times has been on stage for the Happy Mondays, he stood in for Bez on certain gigs. All music people of our generation know Fonzo.

Alfonso pictured in 2017 during the dig at the old Reno Club in Moss Side(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“He used to do a club night in Manchester called Konspiracy, it was full of gangsters, but I used to admire how he’d get them all together and he’d say “if you want a fight join the army”. Everyone kind of loved him, all those factions that didn’t get along, he brought them all together through dancing, music, love. He promoted love – that was his thing.”

Alfonso had been living in Cornwall for the past 30 years, but still regularly returned to Manchester where much of his family remain. He grew up as one of ten, and would go on to have ten children himself.

He leaves children Leslie, 48, Nyomie, 47, Stacy, 46, Alonzo, 45, PJ, 44, Alina, 43, twins Serena and Rihana, 31, Maya, 26, Sylva, 11 and was a grandad of 15.

Son Alonzo said the family are heartbroken by his loss. He said: “He was poorly but it has come as such a shock, he had been doing well, he was responding to treatment. He just celebrated his birthday in January and had been home to Manchester, and then had gone back to Cornwall and died peacefully in his sleep.

“We’re all just very devastated, he was such a massive part of our life, he would walk into any roon and light it up. It’s hit all the family very hard, we’re all just trying to come to terms with it, but how do you deal with it when such a big character with such big energy is gone?

“He was a true, out and out Manc, he represented Manchester and he just loved people and creating that party vibe no matter where he was.

“Legends never die” RIP Fonzo(Image: Alan Ingram)

“He will be very, very sadly missed because he was, IS a legend, because legends never die. It’s very heartbreaking at the moment. Never mind his legacy in the town, just look at what he’s left behind with his children and grandchildren, we all had an unbreakable bond.”

The funeral plans have not yet been confirmed, but Alonzo said there will definitely be a celebration of life event held in Manchester for all his friends and loved ones to pay tribute.

As to how he will remember his dad, Alonzo said: “Just full of life and vitality and energy. And his whistle – always his whistle – his whole being, everything he stood for, he was a people person, he was charismatic.

“Growing up he’d jump out of the car to help an old lady across the street. He was always trying to do the best for other people. He didn’t always get it right, but I’ll always remember him as a kind charismatic very beautiful spiritual person.”

He said the family have been heartened by the sheer volume of tributes being left to Alfonso.

Fonzo pictured on stage in the 1990s (Image: Alan Ingram)

Bars entrepreneur John Locke paid his own moving tribute saying: “He was a living legend of the times – He summed up the Manchester spirit of the times. He was an absolute spark of electricity, he was a catalyst.

“He created the Manchester swagger and attitude, which Ian Brown carried onstage and Liam Gallagher then took the energy world wide. The swagger and personality was formulated and encapsulated in Alfonso.

“He was a force of nature and spiritualist. He was as close to a shaman as I have ever met. A Madchester, Mancunian Magi bringing Manchester Vibes In The Area always. There will be a party happening somewhere in the Universe tonight.”

Tracey Donnelly said: “If there’s a heaven Fonzo will be there now, back with his lovely mum Sylv, family and many friends he was a magical, beautiful soul.”

Alfonso Buller pictured at the funeral of Arthur Donnelly last year(Image: Manchester Evening News)

She added: “I’ll never forget how Fonzo saw both my mum and dad off at their funerals in such a beautiful way. Forever grateful. Love to all his nearest and dearest. Rest in peace Alfonso.”

Festival promoter Paul Fletcher wrote: “RIP Fonzo …performed at loads of my gigs over the years even when didn’t book him he’d just end up on stage anyway doing his thing… love that ! MVITA”

Friend Dave Briody posted on Facebook: “Extremely sad to hear that a nearly lifelong friend Alfonso ( Fonzo) Buller passed away in his sleep last night. The Fonz was unique, an unbelievable character in so many ways, so simple but so complex at the same time and a great footballer.

“Thanks for the memories and the back flips Fonz. I know there will be a lot of very sad people in Manchester and Cornwall and so many other places today. Rest in Peace my dear friend. You were an inspiration to many of your close people.”