BLOG VIEW | HEADLINE VIEW

ALL

GEEK

Addicted to Metal? You Might Be Disabled

TUESDAY JUNE 19 2007 6:00 PM

Submitted by Aaron_Lariviere. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: Sweden, heavy metal, metalhead, disability

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.

�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, 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.

56 Comments

PAGE:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

CherryCoke

North Conway, NH

May 2007

JUN 19, 2007 06:06 PM

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.

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

JUN 19, 2007 06:09 PM

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...

Bren73

Parsippany, NJ

October 2005

JUN 19, 2007 06:13 PM

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

Anarchie

SUICIDEGIRL

Vatican City

JUN 19, 2007 06:16 PM

While I was at school I honestly tried my hardest to have my right to be a punk rocker on the same level as another's right to express their religion. All I wanted was to be able to wear a hoodie and have pink hair!

My school was like that though, they wouldn't allow white kids to have dreadlocks but black kids could.

dungeonwhippet

United Kingdom

September 2006

JUN 19, 2007 06:18 PM

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

pastthetaste

I'm lost

February 2004

JUN 19, 2007 06:19 PM

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!

Grimloche

Danville, VA

September 2006

JUN 19, 2007 06:20 PM

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.

Granny

SUICIDEGIRL

Massachusetts, USA

JUN 19, 2007 06:22 PM

Best news ever.

abracadabra

Seattle, WA

April 2004

JUN 19, 2007 06:23 PM

Brilliant..haters are just jealous

thatoneguy23

Ewa Beach, HI

October 2005

JUN 19, 2007 06:25 PM

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"

deusxmachina

Honolulu, HI

May 2003

JUN 19, 2007 06:26 PM

CherryCoke said:
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.

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