Matthew Sweet, the renowned singer-songwriter known for his 1990s alt-rock anthems like “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” has experienced a severe stroke that will hinder his ability to perform in the near future. The incident occurred earlier this month while he was on tour in Toronto, as announced by his management company, Russell Carter Artist Management, on a GoFundMe page.
In a statement, Sweet’s representative, Catherine Lyons, shared, “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.”
Sweet had performed in Toronto on October 13 alongside the ’90s band Hanson. His national acoustic tour, featuring Hanson on select dates, was meant to continue through November 16.
Lyons noted that the doctors and healthcare providers in Toronto played a crucial role in saving Sweet’s life. He is expected to be transferred back to the United States via an ambulance transport plane with medical personnel. Upon arrival, he will go to a specialized rehabilitation facility where he will receive intensive care and therapy over the next six weeks.
“He will then require months of treatment and rehabilitation that we hope will lead to a full recovery,” Lyons added. “The costs for all of this treatment will be overwhelming. We anticipate a total close to a quarter of a million dollars.”
The GoFundMe page indicated that, without insurance or income from touring, Sweet is facing significant financial challenges. As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had raised $216,705, with contributions from notable figures such as Judd Apatow, John Mayer, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Ken Jennings, and Jon Cryer.
Matthew Sweet rose to prominence from the Athens, Georgia music scene during the 1980s, achieving success in the 1990s with hits like “Girlfriend,” “I’ve Been Waiting,” “Time Capsule,” and “Sick of Myself.” In the early 2000s, he collaborated with Bangles frontwoman Susanna Hoffs to create a series of cover songs. His most recent album, Catspaw, was released in 2021. Sweet’s music has also been featured in various films and TV shows, including Austin Powers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Simpsons. Additionally, he served as a lead consultant on Tim Burton’s 2014 biopic, Big Eyes.