CATHERINE FEGA0N and CHARLOTTE CARMICHAEL

HAD he been alive today, Beethoven might well have been bosom buddies with heavy metal rockers Black Sabbath.

Unlikely as it may seem, fans of heavy metal and classical music have much more in common than most people would imagine, according to a new study.

Researchers found fans of the music styles shared "virtually identical" personality traits, such as being creative and at ease with themselves.

The finding was revealed in a major study into the link between people's musical tastes and their personalities.

Professor Adrian North, of Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University, said the survey of more than 36,000 people from all over the world is by far the biggest study of its kind ever undertaken.

"I was struck by how similar fans of heavy metal and classical music really are," he said. "Apart from the age differences, they were virtually identical. Both were more creative than other people, both were not terribly outgoing and they were also quite at ease."

He speculated that both types of music have a sense of theatricality about them which may appeal to similar types of people.

Stephen Montague, 65, is one such example of the personality cross-over between fans of the two distinct music genres.

The contemporary classical composer struck up a friendship with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame more than 25 years ago.

"We exist in a curious parallel universe," he said. "There seems to be an interest with people on that side of the music industry in what we do, they think we are the key to immortality and that what they do is superficial when in fact it's quite the opposite because we envy them."

Although previous research has shown that fans of rock and rap are rebellious, and that fans of opera are wealthy and well-educated, this is the first time that research has shown a link between personality and music preference. Some 36,518 people from countries as far afield as Malaysia, China, Japan and Chile were asked to rate 104 musical styles ranging from chart pop to Bollywood music and opera.

Oliver Searle, 30, a professional composer who teaches at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, said he was not surprised by the findings.

"I just booked tickets to go see Slayer and my favourite bands are Iron Maiden and Nine Inch Nails," he said. "All my peers are heavy metal fans and we would have been more surprised if you had said we liked listening to Britney Spears but not heavy metal.

"The darker side of human emotion is emulated by composers and heavy metal rockers alike. There is a definite cross-over."

According to Prof North, the findings from the online survey revealed that musical tastes can be seen as a direct reflection of people's characters, as well as confirming a number of stereotypes. "Fans of country and western tend to be more hard- working, fans of reggae were more at ease and fans of jazz were more creative," he said. "It's as though they're choosing the music to tell the world something about themselves."

Prof North said that fans of jazz and soul music may be said to have the "best" type of personality, showing positive traits such as good self-esteem, creativity and having an outgoing nature. The study also revealed that classical music lovers are more likely to have strong self-esteem and creative tendencies, rap and dance music fans are outgoing, but indie fans can lack self-esteem.

Prof North said: "People often define their sense of identity through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang. It's not so surprising that personality should also be related to musical preference."

Deborah Henderson, 23, a student from Glasgow, put the similarities between the two musical tastes down to fashion. "I am surprised to find the two have similar personalities," she said. "I suppose it is because of the way they dress. I think everyone has a metal uncle."

Seb Hunter, author of Hell Bent For Leather: Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict, confirmed the sentiment. "The sheer unfashionableness of rockers and composers should be a point of commonality," he said. "Neither of them can dress."