Matthew Sweet suffers ‘debilitating’ stroke, cancels tour

Alt-rock singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet, known for his ’90s hits like “Girlfriend” and “Sick of Myself,” is recovering from a stroke he suffered Oct. 12 while on tour in Toronto.

Sweet’s longtime manager Russell Carter said Sweet was stabilized at a Canadian hospital before being transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility in Omaha, Neb.

Carter said Sweet, 60, has “a long, difficult road to recovery” that will require weeks of round-the-clock care followed by months of additional treatment.

“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,” Carter said.

“I am confident that his signature determination will serve him well as he focuses now on recovery to good health.”

Due to his condition, Sweet canceled his remaining tour dates, which included supporting Hanson and his solo headlining shows.

The artist’s family and management set up a GoFundMe campaign to pay his medical and other expenses since he is uninsured.

“I just gave to help Matthew Sweet, if his music meant something to you maybe you can help as well,” actor Jon Cryer posted on social media.

Sweet was a part of the Athens, Georgia music scene in the 1980s and was a prominent part of the brief power-pop revival that included artists like Weezer and Fountains of Wayne. He released a dozen studio albums as a solo artists as well as three albums of covers as a duet team with Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs.