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.
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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.

o_O...Okay? That guy's weird.

I would never have thought that it would reach international news.

The internet is hardly more than one nation.

Also, Sweden has the worlds longest word, with 133 letters.

[spoiler]Nordöstersjökustartilleriflygspaningssimulatoranläggningsmaterielunderhållsuppföljningssystemdiskussionsinläggsförberedelsearbeten[/spoiler]

What does it translate to in English?

How can word have nouns verbs and adverbs all in the same sentence.


I fucking love Sweden

I am Swedish... So I am automaticaly cool.

I'ma sweden, but I didn't know shit about the longest word thing.

That's just messed up and another pathetic try to make Sweden famous for something.

If the whole world would UNDERSTAND Sweden we would probably beat y'all in word pooping.

Understand swedish you mean? ;p

Also, I think we invented meatballs.

Mhm.
But Basshunter > ABBA
<3

He's been so internationally famous, and still barely anyone understand his lyrics.

Basshunter
biggest dork evaah

Edit: but Boten Anna rocks

Heavy metal is my lifestyle," he said.

That's what I'm talking about. Do you even know the meaning of a single word from that song? ;p

Yes sir.

So how 'bout them blonde, big-breasted women with pony-tails and wooden clogs?

Is this the Swedish thread now or what?

Frank, FUCK Basshunter. He thought he was the most happy person ever and that no one could have ever been happier than him when Boten Anna was released in the states.

His ego is just... PENIS WITH IT! And what about the album's name? <(__- -o_O^¨~~)> Lool or something like that!

I hope, I do hope you were ironic when you said Basshunter > ABBA. Like. ABBA is history and he is just another techno pussy dork who cried when his song got "stolen" when he "steals" other melodies.

I spoke to a person on MSN and he said this:

x_simpa_x säger (20:30):
Be honom att ta sig i arslet från mig

So now you know I hope you were kidding.

to the original topic:


ahahahah wow....

Topic got changed.

not the original one.

Yep, apparently. ;p

whatever :]
i know what i mean, sorry i can't express that point very well.
oh vell, carry on with your bitch rant.