Pat Smear

Actor · Born August 5, 1959 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Biography

Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), better known by the stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician. He is best known as a rhythm guitarist for the rock band Foo Fighters, with whom he has recorded six studio albums. Smear was a founding member of punk band the Germs and was the touring guitarist for grunge band Nirvana from 1993 to 1994. After Nirvana disbanded following the suicide of its frontman Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl went on to become the frontman of rock band Foo Fighters, with Smear soon joining on guitar. He left Foo Fighters in 1997, before rejoining as a touring guitarist in 2005, and has been a full-time member since 2010.

Acted in 9

2020s

2022
Studio 666
Pat Smear
55
2020
Times Like Those: Foo Fighters 25th Anniversary
Movie

2010s

2019
The Morning Show
Pat Smear · 1 episode
80
2018
Foo Fighters - Lollapalooza Berlin 2017
Movie

1980s

1989
The Book of Manson
Jimi Hendrix
Citizen Tania
Cinque

No release date

Foo Fighters - Music Video Collection
Movie
Foo Fighters: Tibetan Freedom Concert
Movie
Foo Fighters: Live at Pinkpop 2026
Movie

Produced 1

2020s

2022
Studio 666
Executive Producer
55

Sound 1

1990s

1993
Nirvana: Unplugged In New York
Songs

Appearances56

2020s

2026
Saturday Night Live UK
Self - Musical Guest · 1 episode
2025
Amazon Music Live: Foo Fighters
Himself
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
Self
76
2024
Hot Ones Versus
Self · 1 episode
2023
Foo Fighters - Austin City Limits
self
Foo Fighters - Live At The Town 2023
Self
Foo Fighters - Live at Rock am Ring 2023
Self
The Teacher
Self
Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts
Self
2022
Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert
Self
Foo Fighters: One Less Hero
Self (archive footage)
Foo Fighters-Superbowl LVI Aftershow in Virtual Reality
Self
2021
Foo Fighters Live at Madison Square Garden (June 20, 2021)
Self
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
Foo Fighters-Live From Lollapalooza 2021
Self
Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World
Self - Performer

2010s

2019
Foo Fighters: Rock In Rio
Self
Foo Fighters - Reading Festival
Self
Foo Fighters: Hurricane Festival 2019
Self
Foo Fighters: Southside Festival 2019
Self
2018
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
Self
2017
Foo Fighters – Landmarks Live in Concert: A Great Performances Special
Self
Foo Fighters - NOS Alive 2017
Self
Foo Fighters - Cheese and Grain, Frome, UK
Self
2016
The Road to ACL
Self
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest · 1 episode
69
Cobain: Montage of Heck
Self (archive footage)
81
Foo Fighters - Rio De Janeiro
Self - Guitars
2014
Foo Fighters Sonic Highways
Self · 8 episodes
2012
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2011
Foo Fighters The Roundhouse Concert
Self - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Foo Fighters -T in The Park
Self
Foo Fighters: A Hard Day's Light
Self - Guitars
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth
Self
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light Live From 606
Self
Foo Fighters - Live in London
Self