Singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet, who rose to fame in the 1990s with alt-rock hits such as “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” has suffered what his manager says is a debilitating stroke. , it is said that he will not be able to perform for a while. future.
Sweet suffered a stroke while on tour in Toronto earlier this month. His management company, Russell Carter Artist Management, announced the situation on a GoFundMe page this week.
“Our longtime inspiration and dear friend Matthew Sweet suffered a debilitating stroke last week in Toronto early in his national tour,” his agent Katherine Lyons said in a statement. . “He unexpectedly and tragically went off course and was forced to embark on a long and uncertain road to recovery.”
Sweet played in Toronto on October 13th with fellow tour mate, ’90s hitmaker Hanson. Sweet’s national acoustic tour was scheduled to continue until November 16th, although Hanson participated in only some dates.
According to Lyons, treatment from doctors and hospitals in Toronto “helped” save the singer’s life, and Sweet will now be “transported by air ambulance with medical staff on board to a specialized rehabilitation center and returned to the United States.” It is necessary to do so.” He will receive 24-hour care and therapy for six weeks. ”
“He will then require several months of treatment and rehabilitation, which we hope will lead to a full recovery,” Lyons said. “Needless to say, the cost of all this treatment will be significant. We estimate the total will be close to $250,000.”
A representative for Sweet said on the GoFundMe page that without insurance or tour income, Sweet is “facing significant financial burdens.”
By Wednesday afternoon, the fund had raised $216,705 from donors including Judd Apatow, John Mayer, REM guitarist Peter Buck, Ken Jennings and Jon Cryer.
Sweet emerged from the Athens, Georgia music scene in the 1980s and had hits in the ’90s with “Girlfriend,” “I’ve Been Waiting,” “Time Capsule” and “Sick of Myself.” In the early 2000s, he teamed up with Bangles frontwoman Susannah Hoffs to record a series of cover songs. He released his 15th and latest album “Catspaw” in 2021. His songs have been featured in movies and TV shows such as Austin Powers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons, and Tim Burton’s Margaret Keene biopic Big Eyes. Served as lead consultant. 2014.