Musician Matthew Sweet Health Update Following ‘Debilitating’ Stroke
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Matthew Sweet via his GoFundMe page.
The manager of Matthew Sweet, the power pop/alternative rock musician who scored a pair of Gold albums in the early 1990s, has offered a significant update about the condition of the performer who suffered what is described as a “debilitating” stroke while on tour in October 2024. The original news was first shared on Sweet’s Facebook page on October 22, 2024, by his management company which has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the financial burden of his medical expenses. At the time, Cathy Lyons of Russell Carter Artist Management wrote that “doctors and hospital care in Toronto were instrumental in saving [Sweet’s] life,” adding he “must now be flown back to the States on an ambulance transport plane with medical staff on board, to a specialized rehabilitation center, where he will receive around-the-clock care and therapy for six weeks. He will then require months of treatment and rehabilitation that we hope will lead to a full recovery.” Sweet turned 60 on October 6.
On June 6, 2025, Sweet’s manager, Russell Carter, offered a significant update, portions of which are included here. “Matthew wants all of you to know that he would not be where he is today without your profoundly generous support,” Carter wrote. “A day does not pass without him acknowledging how lucky he is to have caring family, friends, music business associates and fans.
“At the time of the last update, Matthew had been transferred from a hospital in Canada to a physical rehabilitation center in Omaha. Unfortunately, Matthew and his wife, who had trained to take over his primary care once he was released, suffered a major set back when they were set to move home. They had an accidental fall and his wife shattered her leg. The break was severe and required immediate surgery. Suddenly both were in need of round the clock 24 hour nursing care. In mid April they were able to cut back to daytime only nursing care and when his wife’s leg fully heels, she can finally take over the daily care she had originally anticipated providing.
“[Matthew’s] progress is very slow. He is wheelchair bound due to a lack of coordination in his legs (caused by stroke induced ataxia) and he does not have sufficient coordination in his hands to even try to play instruments. He cannot at this time use a walker. He also has coordination issues with his eyes which impairs his sight. While his speaking voice is only slightly impaired, he cannot sing. Doctors still cannot give Matthew a prognosis for the future which means he must soldier on daily with determination and engage in therapy hoping for the best but without knowing what the eventual outcome will be. This is a very hard predicament to endure.
“So here is the current reality: Due to the mind boggling generosity of all who have supported him with this GoFundMe campaign Matthew has paid massive medical bills in Canada and Omaha. He has paid substantial construction costs on his home so he can live there in his current condition. He has also paid unexpected exorbitant nursing care costs as a result of both he and his wife being incapacitated. He does have health insurance now and he will soon receive small monthly Social Security Disability payments.
“In short, we are well aware that over $500,000 has already been raised to Matthew’s immense benefit. And he appreciates this in the deepest sense. Unfortunately having incurred very extensive medical, construction and nursing costs, most of the fund has been expended and some deferred local hospital bills remain to be paid.
The original financial target on GoFundMe was $250,000. Fortunately, donations from fans and fellow musicians have surpassed that and the goal has been increased several times. As of June 7, the fund has raised in excess of $629,000 with the goal now set at $1,000,000. (An anonymous donor contributed $25,000.)
Last Oct. 25, Carter, shared an update on Sweet’s condition. “Matthew… has already had a successful but tough first couple of days at the rehabilitation and therapy hospital back home in Omaha. After going through several rounds of testing and evaluations, we’re thrilled to report he’s begun physical and speech therapy. His doctors have told us with reasonable certainty that Matthew will need to remain in the hospital’s care until early December at the soonest when he will then transfer to home care with a professional caretaker. That next stage of outpatient therapy will last anywhere from six months to a year. Furthermore, the doctors have told us he’ll have to convert a den into a bedroom on the first floor of his house and upgrade the adjacent bathroom to be ADA compliant.”
The chart posted at Matthew’s bedside gives his basic vitals and measurement along with his primary therapy goal. Matthew’s goal is not to walk and talk – it reads very clearly in black sharpie, “my goal is to play guitar and sing and make art.” He is very determined and we all can put faith in that!”
On Dec. 9, Sweet described what happened. “I was colder than I’ve ever been and an icy sweat came from every pore. Then I heard a deafening white noise in both my ears growing, and growing and growing in volume, and my eyes started to scramble like eggs in a pan. ‘Call me an ambulance,’ I called out to Evan who was just checking us in to the Toronto hotel after a ten hour drive from Baltimore. Then I was in an ambulance and I heard a man yell, ‘Sir you’ve had a stroke.'”
Sweet was born in Lincoln, Neb. and moved to Athens, Ga. in the early 1980s at the urging of his pen pal, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. As a student at the Univ. of Georgia, he was immersed in the college town’s burgeoning alternative rock scene, playing in pioneering acts like Oh-OK and the Buzz of Delight. At 20, he left Georgia for New York City and a deal with Columbia Records, where he released his debut solo album, Inside, in 1986, to little success. In the ensuing years, he moved to the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey, where he composed the songs that became 1991’s Girlfriend, the commercial breakthrough that his longtime supporters in the industry knew to be inevitable. The singles “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting” earned Sweet an international following. Altered Beast (1993) continued the hot streak with singles “Ugly Truth” and “Time Capsule,” while 1995’s 100% Fun single “Sick of Myself” reached #2 on rock radio, breaking him even wider.
Watch Sweet perform “Girlfriend” in 2024
Sweet continued to evolve over a string of well-received albums in the early 2000s. In 2006, he joined forces with Bangles front woman Susanna Hoffs to record a series of covers from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, Under the Covers, Vol. 1–3. Sweet’s music has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and games.
The GoFundMe post noted, “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.”
Related: Sweet joined a stellar lineup on a Badfinger tribute album
5 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSweet was also in a band called The Thorns with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins, who put out an album titled “The Thorns” which had several hit songs, including “Runaway Feeling”, “Think It Over”, “No Blue Sky”, “Dragonfly” and “I Set The World On Fire”.
Yes! Excellent vocals on that; a bit overproduced at times but a great listen!
Hate hearing this, especially as it sounds like a really long road to recovery. Sweet is one of my favorites from the ’90s. The first time I heard the song “Girlfriend”, I HAD to buy the CD, and I bought every one that came after for the next decade.
So, how in the hell does a guy like this need a “ Go Fund Me Page “ ?
I’m guessing someone stole that cash…… gzzzz
Medical expenses, especially serious life changing and ongoing ones like Matthew’s are hard to fathom. Most musicians don’t make the money that the “big” acts do. He’s a good guy, show him a little grace.