Cake Guitarist Greg Brown’s Life After Leaving the Band
Greg Brown, the original guitarist for Cake and a key writer behind the band’s early breakout, has died after a brief illness, according to a statement shared by the band. Brown’s death has prompted renewed attention on his contributions to Cake’s formative years and questions from fans about what he did after departing the group in the late 1990s.
On Friday, 98KUPD reported that Cake announced Brown’s passing in a Facebook post, calling him “an integral part” of the band’s early sound and development. The outlet also noted that Brown played on Cake’s 1994 debut Motorcade of Generosity and the 1996 breakthrough album Fashion Nugget, and that he co-wrote the hit “The Distance.”
Brown left Cake in 1997, closing the chapter on the group’s original lineup that formed around singer Mr. John McCrea in Sacramento in 1991. After his departure, Brown kept a comparatively low public profile in contrast to the band’s continued success, and there is limited widely published, verifiable reporting detailing his day-to-day work, projects, or personal life in the years immediately following his exit.
What is documented in the public record is that Brown’s ties to Cake were not completely severed. He briefly reunited with the group years later to play on a track for their 2011 album Showroom of Compassion, indicating that some musical connection remained, even if he was no longer a full-time member. Beyond that reunion appearance, no authoritative details were included in the band’s announcement or the ABC Audio report carried by 98KUPD regarding additional bands, recordings, or professional ventures tied to Brown.
Brown’s death has been met with tributes focused on his early creative role—particularly his writing credit on “The Distance,” a song that became a defining single of the era and helped elevate Cake from cult favourites to mainstream alt-rock mainstays. With his age not publicly given in the initial reporting, and further biographical specifics not confirmed, the most reliable account of Brown’s later years remains the limited set of facts provided through the band’s statement and his documented 2011 studio contribution.
