Singer-Songwriter Matthew Sweet Suffers Debilitating Stroke On Tour, Faces Long Path To Recovery

Singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet, who became famous in the 1990s with alternative rock hits like "Girlfriend" and "I’ve Been Waiting," has experienced a serious stroke. His manager has described it as debilitating and it will stop him from performing for the foreseeable future.

Sweet suffered the stroke while he was on tour in Toronto earlier this month. His management team, Russell Carter Artist Management, shared the news through a GoFundMe page this week.

In a statement, his representative Catherine Lyons said, "Matthew Sweet, our longtime inspiration and dear friend, suffered a debilitating stroke this past week in Toronto while in the early days of a national tour. He has been unexpectedly and tragically forced off the road and onto a long, uncertain path to recovery."

On October 13, Sweet performed in Toronto alongside his tour mates, the popular ’90s band Hanson. His acoustic tour was supposed to continue until November 16, featuring Hanson only at selected shows.

Medical Care and Recovery

According to Lyons, the doctors and medical staff in Toronto played a crucial role in saving Sweet's life. He now needs to be transported back to the United States by an ambulance plane equipped with medical personnel. Upon his return, he will go to a specialized rehabilitation center, where he will receive constant care and therapy for at least six weeks.

After this initial period, he will need several months of ongoing treatment and rehabilitation, which they hope will lead to a complete recovery. Lyons noted that, "Needless to say, the costs for all of this treatment will be overwhelming. We anticipate a total close to a quarter of a million dollars."

His representative also mentioned on the GoFundMe page that without insurance coverage or incoming funds from touring, Sweet will face a significant financial challenge.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraising effort had already raised $216,705, with donations pouring in from various supporters, including Judd Apatow, John Mayer, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Ken Jennings, and Jon Cryer.

Overview of Matthew Sweet’s Career

Matthew Sweet emerged from the music scene in Athens, Georgia during the 1980s. He achieved notable success in the 1990s with songs such as "Girlfriend," "I’ve Been Waiting," "Time Capsule," and "Sick of Myself." In the early 2000s, he collaborated with Susanna Hoffs, the lead singer of the Bangles, to create a series of cover songs. Sweet's most recent album, titled Catspaw, was released in 2021. His music has appeared in popular films and television shows including Austin Powers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Simpsons, and he served as a lead consultant on Tim Burton's 2014 biopic about Margaret Keane, Big Eyes.

Matthew, Sweet, stroke, music, rehabilitation