Remembering Greg Brown: The Founding Guitarist of Cake and Co-Writer of "The Distance
Greg Brown, the founding guitarist of the alternative rock group Cake and the co-writer of their hit song "The Distance," has passed away. Cake announced Brown's death on social media, expressing their sadness at his passing and highlighting his significant contributions to the band's early sound and development. Brown's age and date of death were not disclosed.
Brown, along with singer John McCrea, multi-instrumentalist Vince DiFiore, and others, formed the Sacramento, California band Cake in 1991. While McCrea was the main songwriter, Brown co-wrote songs on Cake's first two albums and wrote the band's popular single "The Distance."
After the tour for Cake's album Fashion Nugget, Brown left the band due to internal turmoil and to focus on other musical projects. He formed the band Deathray with former Cake member Victor Damiani and collaborated with Weezer's Rivers Cuomo in the short-lived project Homie. Brown also played guitar on Cake's 2011 album Showroom of Compassion.
Greg Brown's musical legacy and contributions to Cake will be remembered and deeply missed. His creativity and presence were integral to the band's early success, and his impact on the music industry will endure.