Matthew Sweet, a singer-songwriter known for hits like “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” suffered a debilitating stroke while on tour in Toronto in mid-October. His management company has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his recovery expenses as he is unable to perform for the foreseeable future. Sweet, who does not have insurance or touring income, must be flown back to the U.S. for specialized rehabilitation care, which is estimated to cost close to a quarter of a million dollars.
The GoFundMe page has raised over $150,000 from about 2,700 donors, including director Judd Apatow, musician John Mayer, and R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. Despite having to cancel over a month of shows due to health issues, Sweet’s manager is confident in his determination and focus on recovery. Sweet has recorded over a dozen albums since his debut in 1986, with his most recent release being “Catspaw” in 2021.
He has always been dedicated and tenacious in his career and artistic pursuits, and his team is hopeful that he will recover to good health with the help of the donations and support from his fans. Sweet was opening for ’90s stars Hanson at the time of his health issues and was preparing for his own headlining dates before the stroke occurred.
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