History of Matthew Sweet in Timeline
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock and power pop singer-songwriter and musician. He was a significant figure in the music scene of Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before achieving commercial success in the 1990s as a solo artist. Sweet has released several albums throughout his career, including the companion albums Tomorrow Forever and Tomorrow's Daughter, as well as Wicked System of Things in 2018, and Catspaw in 2021, marking his 15th studio effort. His work has contributed to the growth of alternative rock and power pop genres, establishing him as a notable musician in the industry.
October 6, 1964: Birth of Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet was born on October 6, 1964, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He would later become a significant figure in the alternative rock and power pop music genres, gaining commercial success as a solo artist in the 1990s.
1980: Early Musical Endeavors
In 1980, as a high school student, Matthew Sweet began writing songs and recording on four-track cassettes. He joined the band The Specs and fronted his own local band, The Dialtones. This year marked the beginning of his entry into the music scene, collaborating with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe in Community Trolls and playing in Oh-OK.
1983: Graduation from Southeast High School
In 1983, Matthew Sweet graduated from Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Following his graduation, he moved to Athens, Georgia, to attend college, a move that placed him in the midst of a vibrant music scene.
1984: Release of 'Sound Castles' EP
In 1984, Matthew Sweet formed The Buzz of Delight with David Pierce and released the 'Sound Castles' EP. The success of this EP led to Sweet being signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.
1986: Release of Debut Album 'Inside'
Matthew Sweet released his debut album 'Inside' in 1986. Despite receiving positive reviews, the album did not achieve commercial success, marking a challenging start to his solo career.
1989: Release of 'Earth' Album
In 1989, Sweet released 'Earth' with A&M Records. Like his debut, it received critical acclaim but failed to achieve commercial success. This period was marked by professional challenges and personal struggles, including a failing marriage.
1989: Divorce and Inspiration for 'Girlfriend'
Matthew Sweet went through a divorce in 1989, an event that heavily influenced the songs on his breakthrough album 'Girlfriend'.
1990: Transition to Zoo Entertainment
In 1990, Matthew Sweet was released from his contract with A&M and signed with Zoo Entertainment. He formed a new band and began working on new material, marking a pivotal turning point in his career.
1993: Release of 'Altered Beast'
Matthew Sweet released the album 'Altered Beast' in 1993. Known for its intense and brooding tracks, the album received mixed reactions. It featured music videos with creative narratives, including Sweet directing 'The Ugly Truth'.
1995: Release of '100% Fun'
In 1995, Matthew Sweet released '100% Fun', an alt-rock album that found commercial success and included the popular track 'Sick of Myself'. The album was well-received and featured in critic David Browne's year's-best list.
1997: Live Recording Release
A live recording from Matthew Sweet's 1997 performance at Disney Orlando's Pleasure Island was released on colored vinyl for Record Store Day in 2019.
1997: Release of 'Blue Sky on Mars'
Matthew Sweet released the new-wave album 'Blue Sky on Mars' in 1997. The album included synth-heavy singles such as 'Where You Get Love', with a music video featuring Sweet as an astronaut.
1998: Recording for 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch' Album
In 1998, Matthew Sweet recorded his version of Walter Egan's 'Magnet and Steel' for the 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch' album, featuring Lindsey Buckingham on guitar.
1999: Release of 'In Reverse'
In 1999, Matthew Sweet released the psychedelic album 'In Reverse'. The album is notable for its Wall of Sound singles and the 10-minute closing track 'Thunderstorm', a fusion of demos.
2000: Release of 'Time Capsule: Best of 90/00'
Matthew Sweet released the compilation album 'Time Capsule: Best of 90/00' in 2000. The retrospective featured highlights from his career in the 1990s, along with two new tracks.
2001: Tribute to Brian Wilson Performance
In 2001, Matthew Sweet performed The Beach Boys' 'Sail On, Sailor' alongside Darius Rucker as part of a tribute to Brian Wilson. They later performed the song with Wilson on the 'Late Show with David Letterman'.
2002: Release of 'To Understand: The Early Recordings'
In 2002, Matthew Sweet released 'To Understand: The Early Recordings', a compilation featuring unreleased material. He also formed the group The Thorns with Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge.
2003: Release of 'Kimi Ga Suki'
Matthew Sweet released 'Kimi Ga Suki' in 2003, initially targeting the Japanese market where he has a dedicated following. The album is noted for its garage-rock style.
2004: Release of 'Living Things'
In 2004, Matthew Sweet released 'Living Things', an acoustic album featuring material written during his time with The Thorns.
2006: Release of 'Under the Covers, Vol. 1'
In 2006, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released 'Under the Covers, Vol. 1', an album of covers featuring popular 1960s songs.
2008: Release of 'Sunshine Lies'
Matthew Sweet released his 10th studio album, 'Sunshine Lies', in 2008. The album also included a 2-LP set with four bonus tracks.
2009: Release of 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2'
In 2009, Sweet and Hoffs released 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2', featuring covers of songs from the 1970s.
2010: Staging of Musical 'Girlfriend'
In 2010, the musical 'Girlfriend', based on Matthew Sweet's album, was produced by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, bringing his music to the stage.
2011: Release of 'Modern Art'
Matthew Sweet released the album 'Modern Art' in 2011, featuring the single 'She Walks the Night'.
2012: 20th Anniversary Tour of 'Girlfriend'
In 2012, Matthew Sweet celebrated the 20th anniversary of his album 'Girlfriend' with a tour performing the album in its entirety. He also contributed an essay to Mark Dillon's book 'Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys'.
2013: Release of 'Under the Covers, Vol. 3'
In 2013, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released 'Under the Covers, Vol. 3', featuring covers of popular songs from the 1980s.
2013: Move to Omaha
Matthew Sweet and his wife Lisa moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 2013.
2014: Appearance on 'The Simpsons' and Consultation for 'Big Eyes'
In 2014, Matthew Sweet appeared on 'The Simpsons', writing the song 'Hopin' for a Dream'. He and his wife, Lisa, served as research consultants for the film 'Big Eyes', a biography of painter Margaret Keane.
2015: Release of 'Completely Under the Covers' Box Set
In 2015, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released 'Completely Under the Covers', a limited 4-disc box set compiling all three 'Under the Covers' albums with 15 bonus tracks.
2017: Release of 'Tomorrow Forever'
Matthew Sweet released 'Tomorrow Forever' in 2017, an album funded by fans through Kickstarter. The project exceeded its fundraising goal by 75%, highlighting Sweet's dedicated fanbase.
2018: Tomorrow's Daughter and Tributes
In 2018, Matthew Sweet released 'Tomorrow's Daughter', a companion album to 'Tomorrow Forever'. A tribute album, "Altered Sweet," featuring various artists, was also released. Intervention Records announced reissues of several of Sweet's albums.
2018: Release of 'Wicked System of Things'
In 2018, Matthew Sweet released the album 'Wicked System of Things', continuing his prolific music career with this addition to his discography.
2019: Wicked System of Things Release
Matthew Sweet released 'Wicked System of Things', a tribute to midwestern power pop, on Record Store Day's Black Friday in 2019.
2021: Release of 'Catspaw'
Matthew Sweet released 'Catspaw' in 2021, marking his 15th studio album. This release further showcased his enduring influence and creativity in the music industry.
2021: Catspaw Release
Matthew Sweet released his 15th studio album, 'Catspaw', in 2021. This marked the first album where Sweet played all the lead guitar parts.
October 2024: Stroke While on Tour
In October 2024, Matthew Sweet suffered a debilitating stroke while touring with the band Hanson.