Greg Brown, the founding guitarist of the iconic alt-rock band Cake, has passed away after a brief illness, according to an announcement on the band’s social media. The statement expressed the band’s deep sorrow, highlighting Brown’s significant role in shaping Cake’s early sound. “Greg was an integral part of CAKE’s early sound and development. His creative contributions were immense, and his presence—both musical and personal—will be deeply missed. Godspeed, Greg,” the band wrote.
Brown, who co-founded the band in 1991 alongside frontman John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, drummer Frank French, and bassist Shon Meckfessel, left an indelible mark on the music scene. He co-wrote and performed on Cake’s first two albums, 1994’s “Motorcade of Generosity” and 1996’s “Fashion Nugget.” Notably, he was the sole writer of “The Distance,” one of the band’s most beloved tracks.
In 1997, Brown and bassist Victor Damiani departed from Cake to form the alt-rock band Deathray. The group later included their former bandmate Todd Roper on drums. Beyond his work with Cake, Brown collaborated with members of Weezer, Rivers Cuomo and Matt Sharp, on various projects and released a solo EP titled “The End of Something New” in 2023. He also reunited with Cake for the track “Bound Away” from their 2011 album, “Showroom of Compassion.”
Brown’s legacy as an influential figure in the alt-rock genre will continue to resonate through the music he helped create, and he will be remembered fondly by fans and fellow musicians alike. His contributions shaped not only the sound of Cake but also influenced a generation of artists in the music industry.