Greg Brown, who helped found Cake and co-wrote the hit “The Distance,” dies after a brief illness — a loss that has deeply saddened fans of the influential alternative rock band.
Greg Brown, a founding guitarist of Cake and the creative force behind the group’s breakout single “The Distance,” has passed away. The band confirmed his death in a social media statement shared on Saturday, February 7. While his age was not mentioned, a 2021 Billboard profile noted that Brown was 51 at the time.
Sharing a black-and-white photo of their former bandmate on Instagram, Cake wrote that Brown died following a short illness. The Sacramento-based group did not disclose further details regarding the cause of death.
In their tribute, the band reflected on Brown’s lasting impact, describing him as a cornerstone of Cake’s early identity. They emphasized that his musical vision and personal presence played a vital role in shaping the band’s sound, adding that he would be remembered with great affection and respect.
Cake formed in Sacramento in 1991, with Brown joining vocalist John McCrea, trumpeter and keyboardist Vince DiFiore, and other original members. Brown contributed guitar work to the band’s first two albums — Motorcade of Generosity (1994) and Fashion Nugget (1996) — releases that helped define Cake’s distinctive blend of rock, funk, and alternative pop.
One of Brown’s most enduring achievements was writing “The Distance,” which became a major hit in 1996 and climbed to No. 4 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. Reflecting on the song years later, Brown admitted he was initially surprised by its success, believing another track might have been a stronger single. Still, he acknowledged that the record label’s decision ultimately paid off.
Brown departed from Cake in 1997 after touring in support of Fashion Nugget. The band went on to release Prolonging the Magic the following year. Looking back in a 2021 interview, Brown explained that his decision to leave was shaped by personal challenges and internal tensions at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, he described it as a necessary step for his own well-being during a turbulent period in his life.
After leaving Cake, Brown continued making music. He co-founded the band Deathray alongside former Cake bassist Victor Damiani and released two albums in the early 2000s. He also collaborated with other notable artists, including Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo in the short-lived project Homie, and contributed to solo work by Matt Sharp.
Despite years apart, Brown later reconnected musically with Cake. In 2011, he reunited with the band to play guitar on “Bound Away,” a track featured on the album Showroom of Compassion. Drummer Todd Roper later noted that Brown and McCrea retained a strong musical bond, praising the rare chemistry that continued to exist between them.
Greg Brown’s influence lives on through the music he helped create and the artists he inspired. For fans of Cake, his work remains a defining part of the band’s legacy — one that continues to resonate decades later.