Man of 10,000 sounds makes some noise

Michael Winslow.

Nick Grant catches up with Michael Winslow ahead of his New Zealand shows.

For a guy who's world famous for his uncanny ability to mimic noises - his publicity dubs him as "the man of 10,000 sounds" - Michael Winslow is surprisingly softly spoken.

Best known for playing the guy in the seven Police Academy movies who could do the alarmingly realistic impressions of machine guns and helicopters, among many, many others, he's often hard to understand as the phone call from his home base in Miami fades in and out and periodically distorts his voice to the point of gibberish.

It's only after we finish our chat that it occurs to me Winslow might have been amusing himself during yet another tedious interview by imitating a dodgy phone line. At one point he does apologise for having "a strange sense of humour" (that's after doing an amazingly specific impression of a GM Holden that won't start). Plus there are those "10,000 sounds" in his repertoire, although Winslow admits that's more an estimate for promotional purposes rather than an entirely accurate figure. "Over the years it's come to about that," he says. "I'm sure I've forgotten more than I'm doing now."

Born in 1958, Winslow grew up voraciously listening to records and watching television.

"I'd catch stuff from all over the world," he says. "I used to watch it all, from Italian opera to Danger Mouse, because I wanted to hear the sounds."

The interest in imitating noises was a lonely kid's response to his Air Force family's nomadic existence. "We moved around a lot, man, so it was very hard to have any friends at all, you know what I mean? So I kinda just made it up myself, went ahead and made my own characters, my own environment. Which worked out pretty well."

Winslow's early mastery of sound effects also helped him avoid being beaten up by bullies: "You're less likely to go near a guy who thinks he's a rottweiler," he laughs.
When I ask him about his first big break, on TV's The Gong Show in 1976 he says "Wow, you're better informed than Jay Leno," (apparently Leno and co haven't heard of Wikipedia).

"I tell ya, man, it's wild to think back to then. I mean, I was sleeping in my car," he says. "I don't even remember what the heck I did, I just remember being scared to death."

According to the ever-helpful internet, his act included impressions of Benji, everyone's favourite cinematic canine at the time, and Jimi Hendrix.

His really big, career-making break came eight years later, when he was cast in the first Police Academy movie in 1984. He went on to appear in six more - he's been one of the few constants in a ever-changing cast that at various stages included Sharon Stone and Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall - and says he's game for the often talked about, yet to materialise eighth movie in the Police Academy franchise.

Winslow's work includes commercials, other movies, TV shows, iPhone apps, and his constantly touring live gig, which is why we're talking today. In August he's making what will be his 20th visit here in 30 years and this time he's hoping to see more of the country than he has managed in the past.

The show will be a "kitchen sink" affair, he says: "I'm gonna throw a little bit of everything - there'll be some movie things, some improv, stand up and musical selections."

People wanting a taste of what's in store should check out his version of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love at michaelwinslow.net. It's the perfect eye-popping, ear-astounding introduction to Winslow's unique brand of aurally inspired, family-friendly comedy.

Michael Winslow performs throughout the country between August 11-17. See ticketek.co.nz and the-edge.co.nz for dates and tickets, and michaelwinslow.net