Matthew Sweet launches GoFundMe after suffering major stroke while on tour
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the American rock singer Matthew Sweet who suffered a debilitating stroke while on tour in Toronto earlier this month.
Due to the significant health scare, Sweet was forced to cancel all of his future tour dates. The 60-year-old, who has previously made three albums with The Bangles vocalist Susanna Hoffs, was admitted to care in the Canadian city on October 12th. He had been touring with Swedish pop group Hanson and also had headline dates scheduled.
The dates were removed from his calendar on October 14th, and “medical illness” was cited as the reason behind the cancellation.
Now, more details have been released from Sweet’s camp regarding his health issues. In a statement provided to Entertainment Weekly, his manager, Russell Carter, shared: “Matthew was transferred to a rehabilitation center back home in Omaha today where he will undergo extensive therapy. He is now on a long, difficult road to recovery.”
Carter also praised the character of Sweet, who he hopes will make a full recovery and eventually return to the stage, noting, “All of us who know and love Matthew have hope for a speedy recovery. Matthew has always been intensely focused and tenacious in all of his endeavors — not only in his recording career, but in all of his artistic and intellectual pursuits.”
The manager continued: “I am confident that his signature determination will serve him well as he focuses now on recovery to good health.”
Furthermore, in a post shared on Sweet’s Instagram, those who had hoped to see Sweet perform at the cancelled dates were informed: “Matthew needs to pause travelling 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.”
Matthew Sweet’s GoFundMe
However, as the stroke occurred in Canada, this has come at a financial cost to Sweet. Therefore, his team have also set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of his care. At this stage, over $127,000 has been raised by fans, which is more than half of the $250,000 total.
Catherine Lyons, of Russell Carter Artist Management, is listed as the organiser of the GoFundMe page, and explained that while “doctors and hospital care in Toronto were instrumental in saving Matthew’s life”, it’s important to note that health care “is not free for Americans in Canada.”
Sweet’s manager also stated that the singer’s loss of income due to the cancelled tour is another reason why the GoFundMe is necessary, revealing, “Matthew’s medical expenses in Canada and Omaha are exorbitant, and his primary source of income — like most professional musicians — is live touring.”
Carter continued: “He cannot perform for the foreseeable future. We have set up a GoFundMe campaign so family, friends, and Matthew’s amazing network of fans can contribute to help pay his medical expenses. Please contribute if you can and please repost the link to the [GoFundMe] fundraiser anywhere you can.”
More than 2,200 individuals have donated to help cover Sweet’s medical costs which is a sign of the immense support he has from his global fanbase.
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