Man gets sick benefit for heavy metal addiction

[Krieg]

A Swedish heavy metal fan has had his musical preferences officially classified as a disability. The results of a psychological analysis enable the metal lover to supplement his income with state benefits.

Roger Tullgren, 42, from Hässleholm in southern Sweden has just started working part time as a dishwasher at a local restaurant.

Because heavy metal dominates so many aspects of his life, the Employment Service has agreed to pay part of Tullgren's salary. His new boss meanwhile has given him a special dispensation to play loud music at work.

"I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap," Tullgren told The Local.

"I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against."

Roger Tullgren first developed an interest in heavy metal when his older brother came home with a Black Sabbath album in 1971.

Since then little else has mattered for the 42-year-old, who has long black hair, a collection of tattoos and wears skull and crossbones jewelry.

The ageing rocker claims to have attended almost three hundred shows last year, often skipping work in the process.

Eventually his last employer tired of his absences and Tullgren was left jobless and reliant on welfare handouts.

But his sessions with the occupational psychologists led to a solution of sorts: Tullgren signed a piece of paper on which his heavy metal lifestyle was classified as a disability, an assessment that entitles him to a wage supplement from the job centre.

"I signed a form saying: 'Roger feels compelled to show his heavy metal style. This puts him in a difficult situation on the labour market. Therefore he needs extra financial help'. So now I can turn up at a job interview dressed in my normal clothes and just hand the interviewers this piece of paper," he said.

The manager at his new workplace allows him to go to concerts as long as he makes up for lost time at a later point. He is also allowed to dress as he likes and listen to heavy metal while washing up.

"But not too loud when there are guests," he said.

The Local spoke to an occupational psychologist in Stockolm, who admitted to being baffled by the decision.

"I think it's extremely strange. Unless there is an underlying diagnosis it is absolutely unbelievable that the job centre would pay pay out.

"If somebody has a gambling addiction, we don't send them down to the racetrack. We try to cure the addiction, not encourage it," he said.

Henrietta Stein, deputy employment director for the Skåne region, is also puzzled by the move; "an interest in music" is not usually sufficient to qualify for wage benefits.

"Certain cases are confidential but in general there is always a medical reason that is well-documented," she said.

Tullgren currently plays bass and guitar in two rock bands and says that he tends to get a lot of positive reactions for daring to be himself.

"Some might say that I should grow up and learn to listen to other types of music but I can't. Heavy metal is my lifestyle," he said.

[MainMan]

He should grow up and learn to listen to other types of music.

[James]

Hahaha this is absolutely amazing, rofl.

[EternalDeath]

Rofl thats awesome

Really it shouldnt be a disability but if I were forced to become disabled I'd choose metal addiciton! (or gaming addiction but that's off-topic)

Whats listening to other music have to do with maturity? Are you saying just because I hate rap and country and love metal that I'm immature. Yes there's a group of people that listens to everything but he's not in that group and I'm not in that group. Unless he never heard other types of music then theres no reason to "learn to listen to other types of music".

Yes I did read it and I only said it shouldn't be a disability, that would make things unfair for every1 else, hes fine with being a metal fan.

[James]

He is obviously a legend who took the entire thing as a joke and is loving his new benefits.

[synthetic]

Damn smart, listening what you love and getting paid for it

Besides, as they dont specify exactly what he listens in metal, at least i didnt notice any info on that, I think he probably does listen different kinds of music. And even if he didnt, the "grow up" comment remains retarded

[James]

I hope hes a Southern metal fanatic! Smoking weed playing CoC!

[Krieg]

I laughed as wel when I read this.But such things can only happen in Sweden.

[{17}agentsmith]

i need to follow his idea
fair does i don't have peircings but i spend all my time listening to metal and i havent a job before......

[C:Enter:£££]

Hahaha, from Sweden you know it's death metal. I think some other people have picked up on this, some Dutch guy was asking around for legal information about claiming money from Microsoft because of his "gaming addiction", because he had to send his 360 off to be repaired and had to live without his gaming "fix" LOL Pure legend.