Hans Süper

Hans Süper, a German musician and comedian, was born Johannes 'Hans' Süper junior on March 15, 1936, in Cologne. He passed away in Cologne on December 3, 2022, at the age of 86, due to liver cancer. His father, Hans Süper senior, was a member of the Kölner Gesangsquartet De Vier Botze, establishing an early connection to music within the family.

Süper began his performing career around 1950 with his older brother Paul 'Charly' Süper as 'Zwei Schnürreme,' playing accordion. During this time, he met Hans Zimmermann, who would become his future partner in the Colonia Duett. From 1974 to 1990, Süper and Zimmermann formed the Colonia Duett, entertaining audiences primarily during Carnival. Their shows featured improvisational gags and Moritaten-like compositions centered around the phrase 'Du Ei,' which later became nationally known through television appearances on WDR, ARD, and ZDF. The duo reached a peak of 250-300 performances per year. After Zimmermann’s departure, Süper partnered with Werner Keppel from 1991 to 2002 as the Süper-Duett, continuing the same stage show style. The Süper-Duett officially celebrated its farewell in January 2002 at the Cologne Gürzenich.

Süper increasingly used High German in his later performances, a contrast to his partner's dialect. He briefly retired from performing in 2004 but returned in 2011 and 2012 with the program 'Mein Leben mit der Flitsch.' This program, along with his autobiography of the same name published in March 2011 by Helmut Frangenberg, highlighted his connection to his trademark instrument, a mandolin crafted by his father during wartime imprisonment, nicknamed "Flitsch." He appeared at events such as the 'Coelner Giganten' in 2012 and the Cologne Dreigestirn proclamation in January 2013. In October 2016, he performed at 'Kölle singt' in the Lanxess Arena for approximately 12,000 spectators. He received the Dürener Papiermacherorden in February 2020 and was considered a Karnevalslegende (Carnival legend) from Cologne. A memorial is planned for Cologne-Sülz in 2024, and a puppet of Süper exists at the Hänneschen-Theater.