Pat Smear
- Type: Musician
- Country: United States
- Born: August 5, 1959 in Los Angeles, California, United States
Biography
Pat Smear, born Georg Albert Ruthenberg, is a pivotal American guitarist who has left his mark on several key rock movements. He co-founded the influential L.A. punk band Germs as a teenager, defining their sound on the seminal 1979 album '(GI)'. After the Germs disbanded, he released solo material and worked with other bands before joining *Nirvana* as a touring guitarist in 1993, notably appearing on their 'MTV Unplugged in New York' performance. In 1994, he became a founding member of *Dave Grohl*'s Foo Fighters, contributing to 'The Colour and the Shape' before departing in 1997. He later rejoined the band and has been a full-time member since 2010.