On lead guitar, Mr. Creed Bratton

Continuing with The Office theme, some interesting information came my way this weekend.

This may not be news to everyone, but it recently came to my attention that Creed Bratton -- the actor on NBC's The Office that plays a fictionalized version of himself, also named Creed Bratton -- was once the lead guitarist of the late 60s and early 70s California pop-rock outfit the Grass Roots. Turns out he was born William Charles Schneider, later changing his name to Chuck Ertmoed when his mother remarried, before adopting this latest incarnation.

A search of some of the Grass Roots' stuff will reveal at least half a dozen hits you've probably heard, and no doubt some you're pretty familiar with. For example: "Let's Live for Today" (na na na-na-na-na let's live for today, hey-eyyy), "Temptation Eyes", "Million Miles", "Sooner or Later" ("sooner or later, love is gonna getcha / sooner or later, love is gonna win..."), the list goes on. Their catalog is actually quite impressive, if a little formulaic and processed.

For Office fans out there, apparently there was a scene in the "Booze Cruise" episode where Michael plays the guitar on the boat. He sucks, and Creed ends up grabbing the guitar and surprising everyone with how well he plays. Also, in a deleted scene from the "Product Recall" episode, the reporter from the Scranton paper apparently recognizes Creed from his days with the Grass Roots. There are also various references to some hippie-ish traits -- his marijuana use, for example -- but nothing's really ever been addressed in an episode proper.



Creed Bratton - "Beatin' Round the Bush" (live, WMA file)
The Grass Roots - Various Songs (stream)