Warning: include_once() [function.include-once]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/satm26/public_html/tommyvance/theman.php on line 34

Warning: include_once(http://www.mtsaturn.co.uk/tommyvance/toplinks.html) [function.include-once]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/satm26/public_html/tommyvance/theman.php on line 34

Warning: include_once() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.mtsaturn.co.uk/tommyvance/toplinks.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/satm26/public_html/tommyvance/theman.php on line 34

"It's TV on the radio.." was Tommy's normal welcome message on his radio shows, and when he was on radio, you knew you weren't in

for pointless chatter and massives egos - Tommy was the man.

Tommy, real name Richard Anthony Crispian Francis Prew Hope-Weston, was born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire on 11 July 1941, started his broadcasting career in the US using the name 'Rick West', he got his famous name thanks to a DJ who didn't turn up for his show on US station KOL in Seattle, all the jingles were made and so when Rick was asked if he'd change his name to Tommy Vance and do the show, he jumped at the opportunity. Before this, he joined the Merchant Navy and the age of 16, and hearing the Services radio gave him the idea of being a radio DJ.

Tommy was one of the few British DJ's to get rock music on national radio, and he championed many bands, and helped them get fame, by playing their music on his shows. He also loved new wave heavy metal, and he helped it become a popular genre.

He started his Britsh readio career on pirate station Radio Caroline, working with other famous DJ's, including Johnnie Walker, who still broadcasts today. He also worked on other stations, including Radio Luxemborg and Radio London, before joining BBC Radio 1 in 1967, he was one of the original line-up on the station, and presented the "progressive" music show 'Top Gear' with John Peel. He left Radio 1 in the early 70's, and then went on to Capital Radio, again, on of the original line-up (Capital was the first legal commercial pop radio station broadcast on land in Britain). He started presenting the morning show, then did a weekend show playing soul and reggae. After working at other local radio stations, he returned to Radio 1 in 1978, presenting the Top 40 Chart, and his famous 'Friday Rock Show' - this was where he became associated with many types of rock music, including heavy metal. Not only was his presenting style unique, but his voice was too..

Whilst back at the BBC, he presented Top of the Pops, where his professional prsenting style was first seen on television.

In 1993, he left Radio 1, and, yet again, was one of the original line-up on the new Virgin Radio station. He also made regular appearances on music channel VH1, including the 'Nightfly' which was a late-night music show, where he'd introduce all sorts of music videos and read out viewer's letters and calls, as well as taking the p*ss out of himself. He also did a TV version of his already-famous Friday Rock Show, introducing various rock videos and broadcasting speecials from concerts and interviewing many bands.

Tommy helped launch digial rock radio station Total Rock. He also made many on TV, including various music shows, and his unique voice was heard on many adverts and he even narrated a slapstick TV clips show for Channel 5, 'Dumber and Dumber' - lot's of shouting was involved!

On Sunday 6th March 2005, Tommy had died of a stroke, he was taken to Darent Vally Hospital in Kent.

Over the years, Tommy gained the respect of so many people, not only the people who listened to and watched him, but people in music, he interviewed so many people, many of them before they were famous, and helped many get the fame he thought they deserved. He will be missed.

 

Top ^