The death of Greg Brown, founding guitarist and key songwriter of Cake, removes one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from American alternative rock in the 1990s, with Brown’s work continuing to resonate deeply across generations of musicians and listeners.
by Paul Cashmere
Greg Brown, founding guitarist of Cake and a principal songwriter behind the band’s most enduring work, has died following a brief illness. He was 56. Cake confirmed Brown’s death on February 7, sharing a statement acknowledging his passing and recognising his formative role in shaping the band’s early sound and direction.
Cake posted, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Greg Brown’s passing after a brief illness. 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”.
Brown was a central figure in the original Sacramento lineup that formed Cake in 1991 alongside vocalist John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, drummer Frank French and bassist Sean McFessel, later replaced by Gabe Nelson. From the outset, Cake stood apart from its peers, blending deadpan lyrical delivery, unconventional instrumentation and a sharp rhythmic sensibility that resisted prevailing alternative rock tropes of the era. Brown’s guitar work was critical to that identity.
Across Cake’s first two albums, Motorcade Of Generosity and Fashion Nugget, Brown established a playing style that was immediately recognisable. Drawing equally from country, jazz and garage rock, his parts were economical yet expressive, favouring tone, timing and texture over excess. Using a 1965 Guild Starfire III through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal and a Silvertone amplifier, Brown created a voice that anchored Cake’s songs while leaving space for McCrea’s spoken word delivery and DiFiore’s trumpet lines.
Brown wrote or co-wrote several songs during his time with Cake, including The Distance, the track that propelled the band onto international radio and remains one of the most recognisable alternative rock songs of the decade. Released on 1996’s Fashion Nugget, The Distance combined motor sport imagery, understated menace and relentless forward motion, qualities that mirrored Brown’s guitar approach. The song’s success turned Cake from a regional curiosity into a global presence.
Although Fashion Nugget marked Brown’s final full studio album with the band, his influence extended beyond his departure. Some of his guitar arrangements were retained for Prolonging The Magic, released after he left Cake in the late 1990s. Brown later reflected that his decision to leave came during a period of personal and creative turmoil, a move he ultimately viewed as necessary for his health and wellbeing.
Following Cake, Brown co-founded Deathray in 1998 with former Cake bassist Victor Damiani, drummer Michael Urbano and vocalist and lyricist Dana Gumbiner. Deathray carried forward Brown’s melodic instincts while leaning more heavily into power pop and classic songwriting traditions. Their self titled debut album, released in 2000, featured Brown as a primary songwriter and guitarist and earned the band a strong following throughout Northern California and beyond. Two further albums followed, with Deathray remaining an active and respected live act for several years.
Brown’s post Cake career also included collaborations with Rivers Cuomo in the Homie project, co-producing and performing on Matt Sharp’s Puckett’s Versus The Country Boy EP, and working extensively with Golden Shoulders. In 2011, Brown briefly reunited with Cake, contributing guitar to Bound Away on the album Showroom Of Compassion, his first recorded appearance with the band since Fashion Nugget.
In later years, Brown stepped back from the music industry, focusing on family life and working in public service in Sacramento. Friends and collaborators consistently described him as a deeply committed father and a musician who spoke more fluently through his instrument than through public commentary. After retiring, Brown returned quietly to performing, releasing a solo EP in June 2023 and appearing at select live shows through 2024.
Cake’s statement acknowledged Brown as an integral part of the band’s early development, crediting his creative contributions as foundational to their sound. Within Sacramento’s music community, Brown was widely regarded as a musician’s musician, respected for his originality, restraint and unwavering artistic conviction.
Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here
Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YouTube. See things first—Subscribe to Noise11 on YouTube
Follow Noise11.com on social media:
Bluesky
Facebook – Comment on the news of the day
