Pat Smear
American guitarist (born 1959)
Summary
Georg Albert Ruthenberg, better known by his stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician and since 2010 has been a guitarist for Foo Fighters. He was the lead guitarist and co-founder of Los Angeles–based punk band The Germs and a rhythm guitarist for Nirvana. After Nirvana disbanded following the death of frontman Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl went on to form Foo Fighters, with Smear joining on guitar. Smear left the band in 1997 before rejoining as a touring guitarist in 2005 and being promoted back to a full-time member in 2010.
Originally created by Nelnadon
7/25/2003, 5:50:14 AM
Modified
5/5/2026, 3:36:23 PM
Recent revisions
/* Nirvana reunions */ Removed “alleged” in Cobain cause of death description due to unsubstantiated claim/conspiracy theory. Seattle police forensics officially determined the cause of death on record to be a self-inflicted gunshot would to the head.
Filled in 1 bare reference(s) with reFill 2
/* Nirvana reunions */
/* Discography */Added Foo Fighters’ 2026 album “Your Favorite Toy” to the discography.
Not specifically the foo fighters rhythm guitarist
/* Career */
/* Rejoining Foo Fighters (2005–present) */ Putting quotemarks around Run and HEA(ZH) in the Concrete and Gold section
reverted change to birth year, incorrect date
/* Rejoining Foo Fighters (2005–present) */
/* The Germs (1976–1980) */ reword
