Comedian Helge Schneider is colloquially referred to as the "Climper Clown"

Helge Schneider, the renowned German artist, is turning 70 on August 30. To celebrate his milestone birthday, ARD will honour him with a documentary called "The Klimperclown" in their media library. The documentary will be broadcast on August 20 at 10:50 PM.

Born in 1955 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schneider has been performing on German stages since the 1980s, consistently carving out his own genre. Known for his unique blend of music, comedy, and theatre, Schneider has captured the hearts of many.

"The Klimperclown" documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at Schneider's life and career. Filmed with his longtime guitarist and friend Sandro Giampietro, the documentary is unconventional, as it was improvised without a script. The film presents Schneider's career and artistic work through a mix of documentary material, sketches, and original footage.

The documentary features Schneider's life story, told through various original past footage, short sketches, or work clips, without interview segments. Schneider's diverse musical abilities, including playing piano, guitar, saxophone, drums, violin, cello, Hammond organ, trumpet, and accordion, are showcased in the documentary, with some of his songs, both in short sequences and in full length, including his famous piece, "Katzeklo."

Before focusing on his career as an entertainer, Schneider had various jobs, including landscape gardener, draftsman, and driving cows at the age of five. Aside from his music and stage performances, Schneider has written books, made films, and produced audiobooks.

No birthday party is planned for Schneider, but his tour, "A Man and His Music," includes a performance in Hamburg's Stadtpark on his birthday. Schneider joked that he might not play in Hamburg on his birthday, but the performance is currently scheduled.

Schneider's home town, Mülheim an der Ruhr, is described as a "small town with heart." Growing up, Schneider aspired to be a clown, and his love for performing has remained a constant throughout his career.

As a testament to his versatility, Schneider's tour, "A Man and His Music," promises a captivating evening of music, comedy, and storytelling. Don't miss the chance to witness Schneider's unique talent in the ARD documentary, "The Klimperclown," on August 20 at 10:50 PM.