Acclaimed alternative-rock singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet recently suffered what his manager has described as “a debilitating stroke,” which forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his 2024 tour.
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In a statement shared with Rolling Stone on Tuesday, October 22, Sweet’s longtime manager, Russell Carter, reported that the 60-year-old musician had suffered the stroke in the late evening on October 12 in Toronto.
[RELATED: Matthew Sweet Plays Guitar Hero To The Hilt On His Powerful New Album]
“Matthew was quickly admitted to Toronto Western Hospital where he was put into excellent care and taken out of immediate danger,” the statement read. “Matthew was transferred to a rehabilitation center back home in Omaha [Nebraska] today where he will undergo extensive therapy.”
Sweet had been on a North American tour with his acoustic trio, playing headlining show and as well opening for Hanson. He’d been scheduled to support Hanson at an October 13 concert in Toronto when his health emergency occurred.
On October 14, the following statement was posted on Sweet’s socials: “Due to a medical illness and on doctors advice, Matthew Sweet must cancel all remaining upcoming shows with Hanson, and his own headline dates, from October 10 thru November 16. … Matthew needs to pause traveling for a period of recovery. We hope to have Matthew and his band back out on the road in 2025. … Refunds are available at point of purchase. Thank you for your understanding, and please wish Matthew a speedy recovery, and a return to action soon.
A GoFundMe Campaign to Help Sweet Financially Has Been Launched
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help raise money to defer Sweet’s medical costs. The GoFundMe page was launched by Catherine Lyons, who works for Russell Carter Artist Management, set up the GoFundMe page. Lyons shared details about Sweet’s condition and encouraged fans to donate to the initiative.
“[Matthew] has been unexpectedly and tragically forced off the road and onto a long, uncertain path to recovery,” she wrote. “We are asking for financial help in this difficult time from his family, friends, and fans. Without insurance or touring income, Matthew faces an enormous financial burden.”
Lyons continued, “The doctors and hospital care in Toronto were instrumental in saving Matthew’s life, but health care is not free for Americans in Canada.” She then explained that Sweet had to be flown back to the U.S. “on an ambulance transport plane with medical staff on board, to a specialized rehabilitation center.”
She noted that at the center, Sweet “will receive around-the-clock care and therapy for six weeks.” She added, “He will then require months of treatment and rehabilitation that we hope will lead to a full recovery. Needless to say, the costs for all of this treatment will be overwhelming.”
Lyons revealed that the estimated total medical costs were “close to a quarter of a million dollars.”
She concluded, “Your thoughts, love, and support will mean the world to him. But please donate financially if you possibly can. Matthew will be forever grateful to you.”
More About Matthew Sweet
Sweet released his debut album, Inside, in 1986. He’s probably best-known for the modern-rock gems “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” which were featured on his 1992 album, also titled Girlfriend. Sweet also scored modern-rock chart hits with “The Ugly Truth” in 1993 and “Sick of Myself” in 1995.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Sweet teamed up with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles for a trio of covers albums titled Under the Covers. His most recent solo studio effort, Catspaw, was released in 2021.
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