Former nightclub owner's tribute to 'best friend' Cheshire DJ Danny Stubbs

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A former nightclub owner has paid tribute to Cheshire DJ Danny Stubbs after his death from cancer aged 40. Dean Sherwin ran nightclub Zero in Stoke-on-Trent in the early 2000s, and gave budding DJ Danny Stubbs some of his first gigs.

Dean, 54, described Danny as one of his “best mates” and “a very beautiful human being.” He added that Danny was “such a talent.”

Dad-of-one Danny, died on August 24 at St Luke's Hospice, Winsford, after a year-long battle with a rare cancer called oesophageal adenocarcinoma. In November, he was married to former Nantwich nextdoor neighbour Danielle, 33, who paid tribute Wednesday to her “sweet” husband, saying he was "the most beautiful person inside and out".

Danny, who moved to Nantwich five years ago, rose from the clubs of Stoke-on-Trent to world’s most famous stages for electronic music, including Ministry of Sound and Gatecrasher. He featured on BBC radio on a number of occasions and remixed tracks for U2 and Ariana Grande, as well as collaborating with Paul Oakenfold.

Pottery designer Dean, from Audley, met Danny at Zero in 2004, describing Danny as an ‘up-and-coming’ DJ at the time. Dean said: “In the last 10 or 15 years, he has escalated to where he was resident at Gatecrasher, played at Ministry of Sound, but his production work is probably what has pushed him furthest.

Danny and Danielle Stubbs
Danny and Danielle Stubbs

“He did some wonderful remixes for U2, he was on Perfecto Records with his very good friend Paul Oakenfold. There’s an almighty list of songs he has worked on, from Ariana Grande to Carla Werner. He played all over the world, DJ-ing in Miami and elsewhere.”

Danny was diagnosed with inoperable Stage 4 cancer in August 2024. Dean said: “They only gave him a few months, and he managed to battle for about a year.

“He was a very beautiful human being. You hear it all the time — that it has to happen to all the wrong people, all the beautiful people — and, unfortunately, it did with him.”

Danny with the team at Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Records
Danny with the team at Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Records

Danny was remembered by his family at a service in Crewe on Thursday (August 19), including daughter Leah, 19, his brothers Lee, Shaun, and Kenny, his parents Gary and Angela, and his wife Danielle.

Dean says he is planning to celebrate Danny’s life with a special gig including legends of electronic music in April. He says he hasn’t yet decided on a venue, but says acts including Gatecrasher resident Scott Bond, Paul Oakenfold and Stoke-on-Trent’s Andy Moore have signed up.

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