Greg Brown, the founding guitarist of alternative rock band Cake and the songwriter behind the group’s breakout hit “The Distance,” has died at the age of 56.

The band confirmed his death in a statement, saying Brown passed away following a brief illness.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Greg Brown’s passing,” his former bandmates said. “Greg was a vital force in shaping Cake’s early sound and direction. His creative influence on the band was profound. Godspeed, Greg.”

No further details about the cause of death were released.

Brown played a key role in defining Cake’s distinctive, genre-blending style during the 1990s. He wrote “The Distance,” the 1996 single that propelled the Sacramento-based band to mainstream success.

He departed the group in 1997, prior to the release of Cake’s third album, and later went on to co-found the band Deathray.

In 2023, Brown released a solo EP titled “The End of Something New.”