He Faked A Rock Career For Decades
This week, we examine the strange and defiant journey of Cake, the Sacramento alt-rock outfit that turned hating the music business into a thirty-year career. From their early days as quirky outsiders to their massive success with hits like “The Distance” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” we explore how John McCrea and his bandmates navigated the corporate machine on their own terms. We’ll uncover the story behind their polarizing cover of “I Will Survive,” their struggles with shifting lineups, and the irony of their solar-powered path to the top of the Billboard charts. Kindly like and subscribe – it really helps this channel a lot. I do appreciate it!
“He Designed Pet Stores, Then Invented Tool” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiFr8mbfKJM
The Fake Indie Band That Conned the 90s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh1g61kLJ3U
The 14 Days That Destroyed Beck’s Career https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEWeityamBg
The $7 Album That Built A Global Cult https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kST2ukz0MB0
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#cakeband #johnmccrea #90srock #alternativerock #behindthemusic #truestory #sacramentomusic #thedistance #shortskirtlongjacket #musicindustry #indierock #rockhistory #guitardrama #labeldrama #90smusic #altrockhistory #bandbreakups #musicbusiness
@guitarmeetsscience
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
"The Distance" was on Fashion Nugget….enjoy that sweet but salty nugget.
@arvinrunstein5707
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
The unfortunate thing about my relationship with Cake was that all the worst people I knew in high school listened to Cake.
@March1966
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I like Cake. I like cake dry.
@rexbanner7611
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
You could say they had their cake and ate it.
@willlastnameguy8329
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
They came to my home town arena for a show. I wasn't there but everyone who did said they were dicks the whole time and completely half passed the performance.
@jasondavis1615
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
One of my favorite and most listened to bands. Thank you.
@xpindy
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Had to look this up. Never heard of this group or the "songs". Stuff is awful- I guess Radio Disney did a thorough job of ruining people's taste in music.
@djvoid1
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Rick James!
@DavidPawson-d7h
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I’m subscribed for the man, are you?
@steveshattah
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
There was a band from Atlanta called cake that totally disappeared as soon as the band cake that we all know started their rise to fame.
@justsomedude-s7t
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
It's so rare to encounter a happy (so far) ending on this channel…gonna go watch old Cake videos now.
@paulraymond9886
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I never heard of this band and I am 63. They must have hid themselves well
@AmyB369
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
You should do a video on LIVE
@piratehqqker
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I remember seeing them years ago on some music, playing at a Bar Mitzvah. I thought that was kinda cool. Great channel bud, don’t ever change.
@m13579k
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I dislike McCrea as a person (he's a massive a-hole from everything I've ever read) but man do I love Cake. Italian Leather Sofa is such a jam.
@vulgarfist73
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Anyone else think this guy sounds like butthead?
@AlphanumetriX
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I love Cake. I'm 40 years old now, and I loved Cake and Nirvana when I was 10 years old. I still love Cake and Nirvana. That makes me laugh because I have kids around 10 now. I wonder if BTS will still be cool in 30 years 😂
@Bek-bl2ed
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Unfortunately he's a massive alcoholic, not in the good way
@highdesert420
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
They're good. But didn't really go the distance.
@iamnotcharliekuhlman
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Love this channel
@bronsontew
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
You just connected two dots for me I had never connected… I loved Cake as a kid; And I had read about the solar powered studio in Sacramento, but had no idea it was John… Irony? I now run a solar powered tape based studio on wheels. 😅
@theriveryeti2426
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Great video and I love the band. McCrea can be a bit sanctimonious at times but he's a great artist.
@8301TheJMan
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
"All the intensity of someone confirming a dentist appointment," lol
@ultragroove1
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Don’t know much about cake. But I’m here for the algorithm and this, my morning ritual rock-n-roll channel. @GuitarMeetsScience rocks!
@BennyThePIrate7878
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Two quesrions! Have you done one about Cracker? And where can i get a GMS shirt?
@tp8271
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
cake is easily my least favorite band of all time
@LMNTNull
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
"I've not seen any immediate effects, but I try my best" me too man, me too
@TertiumNondatur-e2j
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
never heard of them. I'm from europe though
@kyrkosekaterinaris1328
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
My favourite band from the mid 90s to some point after the mid-00s, who I completely lost touch with. Nice to see they are still going, touring and releasing new stuff as well. Still hoping to catch them live somewhere, sometime.
Thank you for making this, they're a band I thought the world forgot!
@ColonelNegative
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Howdy, brother. Another banger. Thanks for great videos, making mornings a bit easier. Keep em coming.
@jakeprewitt3009
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
John McCrea is easily among the most dickish musicians I’ve ever worked with. Scott Stapp when he was at the height of his addiction was worse, and Beyoncé and Bob Dylan made staff turn around and face the wall whenever they entered the room, but McCrea was just generally rude to everyone for no reason.
@FearMonarch
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
"Smug" that's a good way to describe them
Always reminded me of that guy in a "fedora" (trillby) that would tell you this mediocre Netflix series is the most intelligent and life changing thing, or who would lecture you about their political beliefs without being asked.
The singles and big hits are really good, but everything else just sounds forgettable to me. Doesn't help i think its always corny to rally against big labels until they dangle a blank check around you.
@guitfidle
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
I'm kinda lukewarm on Cake. I like Short Skirt and I Will Survive, but don't like The Distance or Rock and Roll Lifestyle.
Hey, have you ever covered Ednaswap? Classic tragic story there, wrote a #1 song, but it was not their version. Their label folded, lost the rights to their album, song got covered, sold millions. Now the singer writes for other people. Stil writing hit songs, but always sung by someone ese.
@gschaub9
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
We are now accepting callers for these pendant keychains
@megaflux7144
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
every almond uses over 1 gallon to produce. thats like 10 gallons per handfull… and thats a very conservative estimate, some say its over 3 gallons per nut. so yea, california produces 80% of the worlds almonds despite really having no water of their own.
@andallthatcouldhavebeen...9175
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Watching this before I go to work. Now I’m gonna have to blare some cake all day as I drove across the stage for my deliveries! I remember stealing fashion nugget from a “friend” back in 8th grade when it came out. I still have it!
@raymondmasullo6686
August 11, 2026 at 12:28 am
Not into the band, but I love the attitude. And the story. Another great video. Keep 'em coming! 🤘
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