Michael Geier (born March 12, 1964), known as Big Mike Geier, is a singer, entertainer, and leader of the band Kingsized, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.^[1][2] Geier's most critically acclaimed act is his alter ego: a Pagliacci-type clown named Puddles Pity Party. As Puddles, Geier has appeared in YouTube videos since 2013, including some with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.^[3] Geier now performs almost exclusively as Puddles, marketing himself as nothing more than a delivery man.

Biography[edit]

Geier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the fifth of seven children of 'Big Oz' and Peg Geier.^[4] He says that he 'grew up in a houseful of giants', with his two brothers and four sisters all growing to at least 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) in height. Geier is 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia.^[4] Living in, and based in Atlanta since 1995, Geier is married to his business partner, Shannon Newton.^[5]

For someone who hasn’t really released new music in more than 20 years, Billy Joel is having an epic third act. He has spent much of his life in battle: against his ex-wives, against booze, bad. Rip xxxtentacion#sad #x #llj.

In the early 1990s, Geier led a touring 'Swing Noir' band, The Useless Playboys, before settling in Atlanta in 1995. Around this time, Geier started up an Elvis tribute band, Kingsized.^{[citation needed]} Several years into Kingsized, Geier began experimenting with a clown-themed side project called Greasepaint, which laid the foundation for his later alter ego, Puddles.^{[citation needed]}

Puddles Pity Party[edit]

Originally, Puddles was a Shriner clown, but eventually developed into Puddles Pity Party, wearing a whiteface clown costume.^[6] Geier considers himself and Puddles to be separate people, and he refuses to break character.^{[citation needed]} Like Geier himself, Puddles has a baritone singing voice, and sings mostly covers of songs. Puddles has a depressed persona and refrains from speaking on stage or giving interviews.^[7][8][9] His shows include a mix of silent prop comedy, mime, and audience participation with songs interplayed throughout creating a narrative structure. ^[10] Puddles Pity Party performed in Aqua Teen Hunger Force's 2010 tour.^[11]

In 2011, Geier appeared regularly at the Manderley Bar in New York's immersive theater show Sleep No More. In 2012, he moved to Seattle to appear in a European-style vaudevillian cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni. In 2013, he opened for Eels during their U.S. and European tour.^[12]

In October 2013, Geier recorded a cover of Lorde's 'Royals' with Postmodern Jukebox on YouTube. As of November 2020, the video has been viewed over 29.4 million times.^[13] Lorde declared his cover to be her favorite cover of 'Royals'.^[14] Two more versions of Royals, in a 'punk' style^[15] and in a 'new-wave' style^[16] appeared in the later part of 2020. Geier, in the persona of Puddles, has collaborated with Bradlee on YouTube several times since.^[17]

Since 2014, Geier has toured the world, playing concerts in the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Australia.^[18]On September 27, 2014, his live performance of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, was filmed by director Gary Yost and was later described by HuffPost as 'A Strange Kind Of Beautiful'.^[19] As of February 2021 the video on YouTube had received over 8.7 million views.^[20]

In 2017 Geier, as Puddles, participated in season 12 of the reality series America's Got Talent.^[2] He advanced to the quarterfinals at the Dolby Theatre, where he performed his version of 'Royals' and received an 'X' from Simon Cowell. He was ultimately eliminated the following night.^[21] In October 2017 Geier, as Puddles, made an appearance in a Cartoon Network ad promoting new episodes of Teen Titans Go! and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.^[22] Geier previously collaborated with Cartoon Network's Sunday Pants series writing music for the show as well as playing the Slacks' band leader in the live action segments.^[23]

In January 2019 Geier, as Puddles, began a headline act residency at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada.^[24]

Discography[edit]

Sad King Billy

With Postmodern Jukebox[edit]

• 2015, Top Hat on Fleek, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox: 'Mad World' and 'Viva la Vida'^[25]
• 2016, The Essentials, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox: 'Royals'^[26]

As Puddles Pity Party[edit]

Albums

• Holiday Jubilee, Not On Label (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2018
• You Down?, Not On Label (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2018

Singles & EPs

• Royals (Postmodern Jukebox, featuring Puddles Pity Party), Not On Label, 2014
• Space Oddity/Life On Mars?, Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2019

References[edit]

1. ^Gleim, S. (2016). 100 Things to Do in Atlanta Before You Die, Second Edition. 100 Things to Do Before You Di. Reedy Press. ISBN978-1-68106-044-6. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
2. ^ ^abDeVore, Sheryl (September 18, 2017). 'Puddles Pity Party brings humor, baritone voice to Genesee'. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
3. ^Goodman, William (October 31, 2013). 'Sad Clown Rendition Of Lorde Song Will Certainly Haunt Your Dreams'. HuffPost. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
4. ^ ^ab'Headshot, Resume, Contact'. Michael Geier official website. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
5. ^'Michael Geier'. Facebook. Retrieved September 23, 2017.^{[non-primary source needed]}
6. ^Heckert, Justin (March 11, 2014). 'Let Me Live That Fantasy'. Grantland.
7. ^Kennedy, Gerrick D. (January 20, 2015). 'Puddles: Sad clown, big voice'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
8. ^Bowers, Paul. 'The wisdom and sorrow of Puddles, the clown with the golden voice'. Charleston City Paper. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
9. ^Zaino III, Nick A. (January 7, 2016). 'Puddles Pity Party brings mystery, joy to Sinclair'. Boston Globe. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
10. ^ Willis, Daniel. 'Puddles Pity Party mixes laughs with a golden voice' Riff Magazine. 23 January 2019. https://riffmagazine.com/reviews/puddles-review-20190122/
11. ^Stafford, Jeff (August 30, 2013). 'Preview: King-sized Mike Geier continues to follow his ever-growing, ever-eclectic muse'. ArtsATL.com. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
12. ^'Puddles Pity Party – Tickets – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA – January 23rd, 2015'. Troubadour. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
13. ^Royals – ('Sad Clown with the Golden Voice') – Postmodern Jukebox Lorde Cover ft. Puddles Pity Party on YouTube
14. ^Goodman, William (March 4, 2014). 'Puddles Pity Party, The Sad Clown with the Golden Voice, Is Back with a Cover Of Lorde's 'Team' (VIDEO)'. HuffPost. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
15. ^Royals - Lorde Cover - Style Punk on YouTube
16. ^Royals - New Wave style - Lorde Cover on YouTube
17. ^[home page]. PostmodernJukebox. Retrieved September 24, 2017.cite does not support claim January 2020
18. ^Young, Amy (December 30, 2015). 'Puddles Pity Party Is the Most Bizarre Cover Band Around'. Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
19. ^Barness, Sarah (October 16, 2014). 'A Pitiful Clown Singing 'Hallelujah' Is A Strange Kind Of Beautiful'. Huff Post. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
20. ^Hallelujah – Puddles Pity Party at the SF Regency Lodge Ballroom. Postmodern Jukebox – via YouTube.
21. ^Ho, Rodney. 'Did Puddles Pity Party, Angelica Hale make it to the 'AGT' semi-finals?'. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
22. ^SerCom_KC (September 30, 2017). Teen Titans Go! New Episode Promo – Talent Show (October 9, 2017). Cartoon Network. Retrieved October 9, 2017 – via YouTube.
23. ^Rodney Ho, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 'Atlanta's Puddles Pity Party survives 'America's Got Talent' first round: 'This hulking Pavarotti with a retro hipness''. ajc.
24. ^Angermiller, Michele Amabile; Angermiller, Michele Amabile (October 17, 2018). 'Puddles Pity Party Sets First Las Vegas Residency'. Variety.
25. ^'Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – Top Hat On Fleek'. discogs. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
26. ^'Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – The Essentials'. discogs. Retrieved September 19, 2017.

External links[edit]

Billy Casino

• PuddlesPityParty's channel on YouTube

Sad King Billy Crudup

Sad King Billy The Kid

Kate Middleton grew up a 'commoner' and married into the royal family in April 2011 when she and Prince William tied the knot in Westminster Abbey in London. Upon marrying, Prince William and Kate's titles became 'His and Her Royal Highness, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,' with 'Kate' formally going by 'Catherine.' Interestingly, Southern Living reports, she has two other titles depending on where she is within the United Kingdom: When Duchess Kate is in Scotland, she's referred to as Countess of Strathearn; when she visits Northern Ireland her title is — wait for it — Lady Carrickfergus. Really. Additionally, because Kate married into royalty instead of being born into it like William, her title will always come after her name, i.e., 'Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge' as opposed to 'Duchess Catherine.'

The royal line of succession is clearly defined: After Queen Elizabeth II retires from royal life, Prince Charles will become King. Prince William is next in line (followed by his and Kate's sons, then Prince Harry). When Prince William becomes King, however, what does it all mean for Kate Middleton?

Once Wills ascends to the throne, that doesn't mean Kate will automatically become Queen. Her official title will be, according to The Independent, 'Queen Consort;' Good Housekeeping reports that her full title in its entirety will be 'Her Royal Majesty Queen Consort Catherine VI.' This 'Consort' designation is given to the wife of a ruling male sovereign, as opposed to a woman born into royalty. As with many Draconian royal traditions, this does not usually apply to men who marry sovereign female monarchs (like Queen Elizabeth II, who is technically a 'Queen Regnant'), as their titles usually remain the same (as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's did). The single exception was when Prince Albert was named Prince Consort in 1857 after Queen Victoria had reigned for two decades. If Kate outlives William, she may also be eligible for the title of 'Her Majesty, Queen Catherine, the Queen Mother.'

The Sad King Billy

Before Prince William and Kate become King and Queen consort, however, Good Housekeeping reports that Prince Charles will likely bestow his title onto William, making William the new Prince of Wales; Kate would likely then become Catherine, Princess of Wales — though she may decline the title, much like Duchess Camilla of Cornwall, chooses to do out of respect for the late Princess Diana. Royal expert Robert Jobson explained to The Daily Star, 'If William is given the title by his dad when Charles is king, Kate will be Princess of Wales ... simple as that. The reason Camilla didn't take the title is exceptional, she was Charles' mistress. Camilla chose to use one of Charles' other titles hence she is '[Her Royal Highness] The Duchess of Cornwall' in England and Wales. Should Camilla want to be styled '[Her Royal Highness] The Princess of Wales,' she could be.'

In terms of Kate's title, nothing will really change in terms of her royal duties. Southern Living reports that her workload, such as it is, will remain much the same: She'll be a patron for charities of her and William's choosing, make public appearances, and support William in his own endeavors. One of Kate's jobs, bestowed upon her by the current Queen herself, is patron of the Royal Photographic Society, which was announced in June 2019. Queen Elizabeth II held the role, which promotes the 'art and science of photography,' for 67 years before passing the baton to her granddaughter-in-law. The Duchess of Cambridge (and soon to be Queen Consort) places a special focus on charities for early childhood education and mental health, as well as athletics and outdoor activities for kids.

Jobson explained that literally no matter what poor Kate does, her title is entirely dependent on her husband William and father-in-law Prince Charles' actions, noting that William will only become Prince of Wales if Charles bestows the title upon him. 'There is nothing automatic about it. Just 21 men have held that coveted rank in history. Charles is the latest having been made it at 10. The title 'Prince of Wales' is one of the great continuities of English and Welsh and, latterly, British, history.' He added that the title is 'not heritable' and is seen as a 'great honor.'

Despite all of that, chances are Kate will be known as 'Kate Middleton,' especially stateside, for a very long time. Boston University professor Arianne Chernock explained to Vanity Fair, 'It doesn't hurt her that the American press especially refers to her as Kate Middleton. It's precisely her middle-class origins, and that name, which won her over to so many people in the first place. So that reminder can only help her.'

Sad King Billy Movie

While you're here, did you ever wonder how the heck Kate Middleton gets out of the hospital so quickly after giving birth? You're not alone. Find out the real reason why here.