Greg Brown, Guitarist Who Wrote Cake's Biggest Hit, Dies at 56

His song 'The Distance' became an anthem for disaffected Gen Xers.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Greg Brown, a co-founder of the band Cake and the writer of their hit song 'The Distance,' died on February 5 at the age of 56. Brown's grungy guitar work and irony-laced lyrics helped propel Cake to success in the mid-1990s, with 'The Distance' becoming a defining song for a generation. After leaving Cake, Brown formed the band Deathray and later returned briefly to Cake before largely retiring from music.

Why it matters

As a co-founder of Cake, Greg Brown played a pivotal role in shaping the band's unique sound and helping to define the alternative rock genre in the 1990s. His song 'The Distance' resonated with a generation of disaffected young people, capturing their feelings of skepticism and ironic detachment.

The details

Brown co-founded Cake in 1991 with John McCrea, and the band found success with songs like 'Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle' and 'The Distance' from their 1996 album 'Fashion Nugget.' Brown's gritty guitar work and McCrea's deadpan vocals gave Cake a distinctive sound. After leaving the band, Brown formed Deathray with Cake's Vince DiFiore, before briefly returning to Cake in 2011. In his later years, Brown largely retired from music, though he released a solo EP in 2023.

  • Greg Brown died on February 5, 2026.
  • Cake released their hit song 'The Distance' in 1996.

The players

Greg Brown

A co-founder of the band Cake and the writer of their hit song 'The Distance,' which became an anthem for a generation of disaffected young people in the 1990s.

John McCrea

The lead singer of Cake, who co-founded the band with Greg Brown.

Vince DiFiore

The trumpeter for Cake, who left the band around the same time as Greg Brown and formed the band Deathray with him.

Adri Brown

Greg Brown's daughter, who confirmed his death.

Xan McCurdy

The current guitarist for Cake, who acknowledged the lasting influence of Greg Brown's style on the band.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard-edged, easy-listening music that's fairly low volume but not folksy, economical in its arrangement but not boring, and really exciting and dynamic with good songwriting.”

— Greg Brown (The Los Angeles Times)

“I might have told you one thing back when I was 27 years old, and I left hotheaded and mad about what I considered to be irreconcilable personality problems or whatever. I would just say there was a lot of turmoil at the time, and I felt like leaving Cake would be a decision that would be good for my health.”

— Greg Brown (Billboard)

“We were definitely very conceptual about it, for some reason. We were just like, 'OK, we're not going with our gut — we're going to make something, and we're going to be intentional about it.'”

— Greg Brown (Billboard)

“There's still a kind of kernel of Greg Brownness that I bring, whether it's intentional or not. He is a total authentic original and a hardcore talent, and really built that group.”

— Xan McCurdy, Cake guitarist (Billboard)

The takeaway

Greg Brown's lasting impact on Cake and the alternative rock genre of the 1990s is undeniable. His gritty guitar work and ironic, insightful lyrics helped define a generation's disaffection and skepticism, making 'The Distance' a timeless anthem.