Comedian Helge Schneider is famously known as the "Clown from Climper"
Helge Schneider Turns 70: A Career Defying Categorization and a Unique Documentary
Helge Schneider, the German artist born in Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia in 1955, is set to celebrate his 70th birthday on August 30. However, no birthday party has been planned for the enigmatic entertainer, who has defied categorization for decades.
Schneider, who has had various jobs before fully committing to his career as an entertainer, including landscape gardener, draftsman, and even driving cows at the age of five, has been a consistent presence on German stages since the 1980s. His career has spanned beyond music and stage performances, with him writing books, making films, and producing audiobooks.
In a unique move, Schneider has collaborated with his long-time guitarist and co-director Sandro Giampietro to create the ARD documentary "The Klimperclown". Unlike traditional documentaries, "The Klimperclown" forgoes interview segments and instead tells Schneider's story through various original past recordings, short sketches, and work excerpts. This offers a different perspective from previous documentaries, as per Schneider's statement to NDR.
The documentary, which is set to be broadcast on August 20 at 10:50 PM, features improvisation without a script by Schneider and Giampietro. Some of Schneider's songs, both in short sequences and in full length, can be seen in the documentary. His probably best-known piece, "Katzeklo", is presented as a spontaneous improvisation.
Schneider's enjoyment of his work in the studio is evident in the documentary, with viewers getting a glimpse of his pre-show routine that includes physical exercises, thinking, body control, considering, and stretching.
Schneider performs in his own genre, and his musical versatility is evident in his ability to play piano, guitar, saxophone, drums, violin, cello, Hammond organ, trumpet, and accordion.
On his birthday, Schneider will perform in the Hamburg Stadtpark, though he joked that he might go somewhere else instead. Regardless of where he performs, it's clear that Schneider's unique style and defiance of categorization will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
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