The wife of a Stoke-on-Trent DJ has paid tribute to her ‘beautiful’ and ‘sweet’ husband after his death at the age of 40. Music producer Danny Stubbs lost his fight for life after a year-long battle with a rare cancer. Dad-of-one Danny, from Chell Heath, began DJing at clubs in Hanley in the early 2000s before enjoying a career that took him across the world, with residencies at Gatecrasher and sets at Ministry of Sound.
Other highlights included remixing for U2 and Ariana Grande, as well as working with Paul Oakenfold. His wife Danielle Stubbs, 33, described him as 'the most beautiful person inside and out'. The pair were next-door neighbours when they met in Nantwich, where Danny moved in 2019.
The following year, during the first lockdown, Danny and Danielle began spending time together in the garden, before moving into Danny’s home together. Danielle said: “Danny’s friends always said that, even though he was always travelling the world he’d meet someone next-door, and that’s exactly what happened.” But in August 2023, Danny was diagnosed with rare Stage 4 oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
The cancer was inoperable and had spread to his lymph nodes and bones in his spine. The only symptoms Danny experienced prior to the diagnosis were acid reflux, hiccoughing and difficulty swallowing, which Danielle said ‘seemed innocent’. Danny was told palliative chemotherapy was the only treatment option available.
“It has been a journey of massive lows and massive.