NEWS: Addicted to Metal? You Might Be Disabled

CULTURE: Addicted to Metal? You Might Be Disabled

Following up on today’s theme of disability, I have breaking news of the heaviest sort. To borrow a phrase: the greatest trick a metalhead ever pulled was convincing the world he was… disabled?!

Sweden’s The Local presents the case of 42-year-old headbanger Roger Tullgren. Either through dumb luck or sheer brilliance, Roger has managed to convince the Swedish government that his “heavy metal addiction” is a genuine disability. For serious.

Roger -- being that he is, after all, a metalhead -- has a natural love for heavy metal. When he skips work for a concert, or shows up at his job looking like a gnarly scumfuck, it doesn't go over well with his employers. But seen through the eyes of an imaginative and delusional psychologist, his seeming laziness and disregard for work stem from his inability to express himself and a physical need to bang his head all the live-long day.

Roger, as you have likely guessed, is the smartest man in the world. Befittingly, his rough and tumble powers of persuasion have entitled him to the following state-sanctioned benefits:

• Time off as needed to attend concerts, so long as he makes up the hours when he can.


• The right to listen to metal and wear "heavy-metal attire" while he works.


• A supplement to his income, paid by the Employment Service.

Congratulations, Roger. Admitting you have a problem is the first step on the long razor-strewn road to recovery. With the grace of god you'll surely bear the heavy burden of your metallic disability like an armored saint.

I can't stand people who take advantage of their "disabilities."
They just make life harder for the people who really do have something wrong with them.

Oh. My. God.

And yet, I'm suddenly sad that indie-pop clothes are all pretty work-appropriate to start. Maybe just a little stereo next to my desk, with vinyl capabilities...

that's really scary... I am speechless that he got away with it.

fuckin hell, what a genius. im well signing on tomorrow, i also 'suffer' from rare metalheadedness.....MEGA

what a fuckin puss. i've been dealing with stupid rednecks my whole life. "cut your hair, turn that shit down!" yeah i've skipped work for a show or shown up way fuckin tired because of a show, but that where having a set of balls comes in handy...i suggest this guy tries to fuckin find his!

what a lucky bastard. i should try that. except im stricken with the gamer disease. i should be able to play video games all day at work. or just get paid to do it.

Brilliant..haters are just jealous

That settles it, I'm moving to fucking Sweden.

I think there maybe I can get treatment for my severe case of "metalheadness".

"Hello, my name is Adam and I am a Metelhead"

Yah, I bet the drummer from Def Leppard is pissed.

more like a clear-cut case of thickheadedness.

seriously.
i cant wait for my video game addiction special treatment.

I so want a Disabled Metalhead Card.

I have a new hero.

I might have the exact same handicap and never knew it.

I know a guy who's clinically addicted to rock.


Crack Rock that is.

Roger Tullgren = Satan. All Hail.



And once again the underestimated metalhead strikes.

Awright, now we are making way for the HEAVYMETAL-ISM goverment ive always wanted

Seriously. This makes me want to take a nailbat to this guy's face.

Heh .... How dumb are all the people around this guy? It's not that he's that smart .... everyone else is just that dumb.

Metalhead is probably not an actual decease, but a symptom ... of something better off left unmentioned on a friendly blog site.

little bit pathetic. little bit.

Thi just goes to show what a forward thinking and upstanding country Sweden is,
I mean it takes true courage to be the first country to recognize a new disability.

I wonder if I can manage to swing that one down here in Oz ?

I mean there's a shitload of gigs coming up, and wouldnt mind having time off work to accomadate 'em all.

This guy should start an online class, "fucking over the system for metalheads"

If nothing else, you gotta admire his inventiveness.

And like Emi, I fit into this disability category all too well