Really sad news. This from the Times. (I think they got his age wrong, most
articles say Tommy was born in July 1943 so he wasn't 63 but 61).

"Tommy Vance, voice of rock, dies at 63

Tommy Vance, 63, the former Radio 1 disc jockey, has died in hospital after
suffering a stroke. The DJ, who was best known for hosting the Friday Rock
Show on the digital channel VH1, was taken to Darent Valley Hospital, Kent,
three days ago after suffering his first stroke at home in Kent.

Jon Roseman, his agent, said that Mr Vance would leave "an enormous void".

"I had known Tommy for 35 years. He certainly had one of the most
recognisable voices on radio. He was a great bloke and he was held in very
high regard for his knowledge of rock, which was unsurpassed.

"Without Tommy, there will be a hole that is not going to be filled," he
said.

Mr Vance's trademark gravely voice landed him many commercial voice-over
jobs, earning him the distinction of the "voice on legs".

He started his career in the United States in the 1960s on radio station
KHJ, which was based in Los Angeles.

More recently Mr Vance had his own show on digital station Virgin Radio
Classic Rock. Television audiences also saw Mr Vance walk out of Gordon
Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen on Channel 4 when he could no longer take the heat
from the celebrity chef.

During the course of his radio career, which has included stints at Radio
Caroline and Radio 1, where he worked for 15 years, Mr Vance interviewed
more than 10,000 guests, including the Prince of Wales.

He leaves a former wife, Stella, and two children Jessie, 19, and Daniel,
22.

Andy Parfitt, Controller of Radio 1, said: "Tommy Vance was a great
broadcaster. He presented for many years on Radio 1 the seminal rock show,
which a whole generation of music fans remember very fondly.

"He will be sadly missed by listeners and fellow DJs alike."

Dave Cash, a fellow DJ, who was a friend of Mr Vance for 40 years, told the
BBC: "He's a bit like John Peel and Kenny Everett - he's irreplaceable, he
was a total - professional. Tommy was part of the group that actually cared
about the music he was playing."

(The Times)