Multi artist: Helge Schneider turns 70 – and keep going nonsense and music

He is one of the most popular comedians in Germany and is probably the only one who also makes films, writes books and plays around a dozen musical instruments. Helge Schneider is often referred to as all -round artists, he does not fit in any drawer. He often calls himself a clown or “climber clown”, as his current film is called with autobiographical features.

This Saturday (August 30) the man will be 70 years old with the absurd humor. And what does he do on his birthday? Of course nonsense-on an open-air stage in Hamburg city park.

A legendary appearance on “Wetten, dass ..?” 30 years ago

Schneider comes from Mülheim an der Ruhr, is still rooted in the Ruhr area city and has also his studio there – jam -packed with instruments. He already plays the piano and cello as a boy. After the ninth grade, school ends. After that, he tries in all possible jobs – also as a interior decorator or building draftsman or in horticulture. He quickly gives up at the music conservatory.

As a jazz musician, Schneider started in the 1970s, solo, with band – and with a lot of fun in the silly -anarchic joke. So he makes the audience laugh as a self -proclaimed “singing men’s cake”. “Katzeklo” becomes a huge success, decoupled from his double album “There is rice, baby” (1993). His appearance on “Wetten, dass ..?” In 1994 it announced an audience of millions on TV. The record “Summer, sun, cactus!” ends up in the charts in 2013.

Typical for Helge Schneider: He is passionate about improvising. In the meantime he has completed several thousand shows on stage in around five decades. He is currently touring Germany, Austria and Switzerland with “a man and his music”. His film “The Trimperclown” has been seen in the cinema as ARD documentary since the beginning of August – and in the media library.

Shrill outfits and a fluffy hair part

His shrill outfit with colorful ties, glaring colors and likes to strubble “hair part” are among the trademarks, as well as his sometimes mosling pronunciation. Not everyone likes their humor. But his wide skill as a jazz musician – he plays Hammond organ, piano, guitar, drums, cello, accordion, many wind instruments and more – is highly respected. He is not lacking in awards. The composer and musician in 2023 also received the art prize NRW – “as a legendary music talent”.

Filmmaker and author

The multi -artist has slipped into some roles as an actor, made several films, including the strip “00 Schneider – hunt for Nihil Baxter” (1994). He is the author of numerous books – for example the bizarre novel “Eggalate: a woman goes his way” (1999). He also created a crime series in which his alter ego investigates Commissioner Schneider – most recently in “Steppanz” (2023). However, he quickly finished his own talk show at WDR in 2012.

What he doesn’t like: if you ask him about your private life. The artist protects this, that is taboo. He has six children of four women. Schneider gives some insights into “The Trimperclown” – with old photos and videos on which he can be seen with his two sisters and parents. The mother was a secretary at the tax office, the father of the telecommunications divisor. “They were very decent people”.

Many film snippets with crazy appearances have been seen in the documentary since the youth – as well as Helge Schneider later on the wing, with his band, on his Hammond organ, on the saxophone, in the studio. Old companions such as pop singer Peter Kraus have small guest appearances in his film. Spain has become a second home for him, Schneider also describes in “The Trimperclown”. However, otherwise you should not take everything for bare coin, which he explains everything about his life in production – without a script.

Even a comedian doesn’t just have something to laugh about

The comedian keeps fit with walking, against arthrosis. And he does that early as possible, “when nobody looks”, as he recently told. He can also be in a bad mood. He broke off a series of “beach chair open air” about five years ago because he was annoyed by the supply of drinks near the stage. He struggles very much with the internet. Artificial intelligence in art bothers him.

On his 70th birthday, Helge Schneider is on stage in the north. No celebration? He had revealed to his 65th: Because he is so reluctant to clean up for days – as was the last after his party for the 50th – he would only celebrate his 100th birthday again.