[1][3] He developed a new style of music hall performance as a "heavy swell" or Lion comique, at the same time as George Leybourne took a similar approach.

In this style, performers relied less on copying burlesque, and instead sought inspiration in their everyday experiences and the colourful characters of daily street life.

[1] Vance suffered from heart disease, and died on 26 December 1888, at the age of about 49, while performing on the stage of the Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge.

Writing in The Cornishman newspaper (14 October 1880), a reporter described him as a broad, not to say vulgar singer who should not be allowed to dispense to the people such songs as the London Music Halls encourage; and suggested that, "The feelings of well-disposed and peaceful citizens are outraged by the so-called improvised songs or topical allusions of this very low comedian.

The writer further suggested that if Vance should choose to tour Cornwall again, the citizens of Falmouth should follow the example of Redruth and Liskeard, and make his visit a far from pleasant one.