R.I.P. Greg Brown (Cake)

Greg Brown, the founding guitarist of the longtime Sacramento alternative band, Cake, has passed away following an unspecified short illness.

The band posted the following on a social media post: “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.”

The band first formed 1991 in Sacramento and was immediately uniquely known for their eclectic sound that blended rock, funk, jazz, and country influences.

The group’s initial lineup consisted of Brown, alongside John McCrea (vocals, guitar), Shon Meckfessel (bass), Frank French (drums), and trumpeter Vince DiFiore. Their debut breakout album Fashion Nugget (1996), yielded hit singles “The Distance” and their remake of the disco classic, “I Will Survive.”

Cake continued to build on their success with albums like Prolonging the Magic (1998), Comfort Eagle (2001), and Showroom of Compassion (2011). Their songs continued to be known for their quirky, ironic lyrics, unconventional musical structure, and upbeat rhythms with tongue-in-cheek commentary. Brown had left the band after their first two albums, joining Deathray, but returned for the 2011 release, with both acts regularly touring.

Cake had long stated that they would make no other new albums, due the changing way of how music was being consumed. But they appeared to have a change of heart, releasing two singles “Hold You (Responsible)” and “Billionaire in Space”, that was hinting at a new album, which would be their first in fifteen years. Tentatively, look for that release in the coming year, as well as perhaps a live album (no word as to if Brown will be involved).

Brown had also released a recent solo EP, “The End of Something New” in 2023.