US EditionGreg Brown, Founding Cake Guitarist Who Wrote ‘The Distance,’ Dies
Greg Brown, who wrote Cake’s hit “The Distance,” passed after a brief illness at 55; his work shaped the band’s early sound and influenced alternative rock.
- Cake confirmed on social media that founding guitarist and songwriter Greg Brown died at 55 after a brief illness on February 7, 2026.
- As a co-founder, Greg Brown helped form Cake in Sacramento in 1991 and played guitar and organ on Motorcade of Generosity and Fashion Nugget, writing the breakout song `The Distance`.
- He later formed Deathray with former Cake bassist Victor Damiani, collaborated with Rivers Cuomo and Matt Sharp, and rejoined Cake to contribute to 2011's Showroom of Compassion before releasing The End of Something New in 2023.
- The band said Greg was an integral part of CAKE's early sound and development, and fans offered condolences while Billboard and Stereogum reported the news.
- Brown later reflected that `The Distance` became Cake's signature track, climbing Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, and he said, `it worked out` after the label chose it over `Frank Sinatra`; his guitar style influenced the band's sound and peers.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Founding CAKE Guitarist and ‘The Distance’ Songwriter, Greg Brown, Has Died at 56
Greg Brown, who wrote CAKE’s successful 1996 hit “The Distance”, has died at 56. The band shared the news on February 7, stating that the founding guitarist passed after a “brief illness.” “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Greg Brown’s passing after a brief illness,” the band wrote on Instagram. “Greg was an integral part of CAKE’s early sound and development. His creative contributions were immense, and his presence—both musica…
Co-Founder of 1990s Band Cake Has Died
The guitarist and songwriter who helped give the 1990s group Cake its distinctive sound has died. Greg Brown, a founding member of the Sacramento band and the writer behind its breakout song "The Distance," died after a short illness, the group announced on social media over the weekend, reports Stereogum...
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