Helge Schneider reigned among the most popular German comedians of his generation, even topping the pop charts with his novelty smash "Katzeklo." Born August 30, 1955 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Schneider dropped out of high school to serve as an apprentice draftsman, but quickly reversed course to study piano at the Duisburg Conservatoire. After launching his performing career playing jazz in local nightclubs and cabarets, he turned to standup, often incorporating his musical education into his routines. Schneider's broad, patently absurdist persona embraced elements of slapstick, parody, and unadulterated raunchiness, all rooted in the complexities of the German language. ~ Jason Ankeny