A Dragonforce fan from Ohio claims that listening to the band's high-pitched cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" has left him permanently deaf.
"I was a huge Cash fan, and I thought it would be interesting to hear a metal band cover one of his songs," said 34-year-old Jason Swanson. "But as soon as the song started, I felt like my eardrums were going to burst."
Swanson claims he poked out his eardrums with a Q-tip to alleviate the pain shortly after the song began. He's now seeking compensation from Dragonforce for his permanent hearing loss.
Dragonforce, known for their high-energy performances and lightning-fast guitar riffs, has not responded to Swanson's claims. However, the band has received criticism in the past for their loud and often chaotic live shows.
Swanson's wife, who was in the room when he allegedly harmed himself, says she was shocked by his actions.
"He's always been a fan of loud music, but this is just insane," said Sarah Swanson. "He's been listening to music through noise-cancelling headphones ever since."
Despite the bizarre incident, Swanson says he still enjoys Cash's original version of "Ring of Fire" and admits he might have underestimated Dragonforce's ability to take the song to a new level.
"I guess I got what I deserved," he said, before quickly adding, "But seriously, my hearing is gone forever, so I hope the band does the right thing and compensates me for the damage they caused."
