Sweden Becomes First Nation To Recognize Heavy Metal Fanship As Basis For Public Aid

Swedish metal fan Roger Tullgren has successfully petitioned the Swedish national government to grant him state aid on the basis of his metalness. 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. Recently Tullgren's metalness has gotten in the way of his work; last year Tullgren felt compelled to attend more then 300 metal shows, often missing work in the process, and eventually found himself unemployed. Tullgren thereafter petitioned the Swedish government, which decided he should receive a state-funded supplement to his income and should be entitled, under the power of Swedish national law, to wear his black hair long and to wear skull jewelry to work. Said Tullgren, "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." Rock on, Mr. Tullgren.