Metal addict is still a victim…

Benefit: Roger Tullgren

Roger Tullgren has been an internet sensation several times over, as the story of his addiction to heavy metal continues to be recycled by news outlets since it first appeared in 2007.

Swedish citizen Tullgren was able to persuade officials that his inability to stop listening to heavy music made it impossible for him to find regular work – and amounted to a disability.

Six years ago they agreed and paid him income support of several hundred pounds a month.

At the time he said: “I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap. I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against.”

But after his story made the rounds again recently, he revealed his payments stopped in January 2012.

Tullgren tells The Local: “It’s really funny – I’m not really sure why it popped up again but I’ve had lots of people emailing me about it from all over the world.

“I took a new job as a janitor. I work four hours a day and then spend most of the rest of the time with my band, Papa Midnite.

“Metal controls my life. I need to have my music with me wherever I go. I’m taking medication that makes it hard to sleep, which leaves me with even more time to listen to metal.”

But while Tullgren admits his addiction gets in the way of his life, there are some things he’s not prepared to do in search of a solution.

“Some friends suggested I sit in a room for 12 hours straight and listen to dance music,” he explains. “I didn’t do it – and I’m glad for that.”