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Career and work
Good fronted the Matthew Good Band through the 1990s and early 2000s. The group released four full-length albums and won Juno Awards for Best Group and Best Rock Album for Beautiful Midnight in 2000. [1]
After the band disbanded in 2002, Good began his solo career with Avalanche in 2003. His later albums have included Hospital Music, Vancouver, Lights of Endangered Species and Moving Walls. [1]
What has been publicly discussed
- Before his diagnosis, Good described severe anxiety that became increasingly difficult to manage. In 2006, while staying with his parents, he took more than 45 pills and was taken to hospital. He then voluntarily admitted himself to a psychiatric ward. [3]
- In 2011, Good said that he was feeling substantially better and credited a combination of medications with keeping his symptoms in check. [4]
- Good has spoken publicly about bipolar disorder for many years. In 2013, he gave a TEDxToronto talk, Balancing Mental Health and Genius, examining mental health and creativity. [6]
- In 2026, Good described himself as a longstanding representative for mental-health issues, while also expressing criticism of some organizations and campaigns that present themselves as mental-health advocates. [5]
“In learning of it the entirety of my life fell into place, explaining a multitude of behaviours.”
— Matthew Good [5]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Paquin Entertainment“Matthew Good” Professional biography covering the Matthew Good Band, Beautiful Midnight, his Juno recognition and transition to a solo career with Avalanche.
Exclaim!“Matthew Good” Interview in which Good explicitly identifies himself as having “type two bipolar [disorder].”
The Georgia Straight“Dark times inspired Matthew Good’s Hospital Music” Interview covering severe anxiety, his overdose, psychiatric admission and the period surrounding his diagnosis.
View all 6 sources
Gig City“Interview: Matthew Good tackles the Great North American Bummer” Reports Good describing improvement after diagnosis and medication that kept his bipolar symptoms in check.
Matthew Good“The Health Thing” Good’s own account of his 2006 bipolar diagnosis, how it changed his understanding of his past and his perspective on mental-health advocacy.
TEDxTorontoBalancing Mental Health and Genius Good’s public talk about bipolar disorder, mental health and creativity.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Matthew Good and their experiences.