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.

Filmography

• 2022Studio 666 — Pat Smear, Executive Producer
• 2020Times Like Those: Foo Fighters 25th Anniversary
• The Morning Show — Pat Smear
• 2004Media Blitz: The Germs Story
• 1993Nirvana: Unplugged In New York — Self - Guitar, Songs
• 1993Nirvana: Unplugged in New York - Rehearsal — Self - Guitar, Vocals
• 1989Citizen Tania — Cinque
• 1989The Book of Manson — Jimi Hendrix
• Foo Fighters - Music Video Collection
• Foo Fighters: Live at Pinkpop 2026
• Foo Fighters: Tibetan Freedom Concert

Appearances as themselves (58)

• Saturday Night Live UK — Self - Musical Guest
• 2025Amazon Music Live: Foo Fighters — Himself
• 2025SNL50: The Homecoming Concert — Self
• Hot Ones Versus — Self
• 2023Foo Fighters - Austin City Limits — self
• 2023Foo Fighters - Live At The Town 2023 — Self
• 2023Foo Fighters - Live at Rock am Ring 2023 — Self
• 2023Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts — Self
• 2023The Teacher — Self
• 2022Foo Fighters-Superbowl LVI Aftershow in Virtual Reality — Self
• 2022Foo Fighters: One Less Hero — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert — Self
• 20212021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — Self
• 2021Foo Fighters Live at Madison Square Garden (June 20, 2021) — Self
• 2021Foo Fighters-Live From Lollapalooza 2021 — Self
• 2021Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World — Self - Performer
• 2019Foo Fighters - Reading Festival — Self
• 2019Foo Fighters: Hurricane Festival 2019 — Self
• 2019Foo Fighters: Rock In Rio — Self
• 2019Foo Fighters: Southside Festival 2019 — Self
• 2018Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017 — Self
• 2017Foo Fighters - Cheese and Grain, Frome, UK — Self
• 2017Foo Fighters - NOS Alive 2017 — Self
• 2017Foo Fighters – Landmarks Live in Concert: A Great Performances Special — Self
• 2016The Road to ACL — Self
• 2015Cobain: Montage of Heck — Self (archive footage)
• 2015Foo Fighters - Rio De Janeiro — Self - Guitars
• 2015Foo Fighters - Rock am Ring — Self - Guitar
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Self - Musical Guest
• Foo Fighters Sonic Highways — Self
• 201212-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief — Self
• 2011Foo Fighters - Live in London — Self
• 2011Foo Fighters - Wasting Light Live From 606 — Self
• 2011Foo Fighters -T in The Park — Self
• 2011Foo Fighters The Roundhouse Concert — Self - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
• 2011Foo Fighters: A Hard Day's Light — Self - Guitars
• 2011Foo Fighters: Back and Forth — Self
• 2011Foo Fighters: Live At Pinkpop Festival — Self - Lead Guitar
• 2009Foo Fighters - Greatest Hits — Self
• 2008Foo Fighters: Live At Wembley Stadium — Self - Guitars
• The Graham Norton Show — Self - Performer
• 2006Foo Fighters: Skin and Bones — Self
• 2006Nirvana - In Utero: Under Review — Self (archive footage)
• 2006Nirvana The Path from Incesticide to In Utero — Self
• 2005Punk: Attitude — Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Self - Guest
• 1998Free Tibet — Self - Foo Fighters
• 1998Kurt & Courtney — Self
• Late Show with David Letterman — Self - Musical Guest
• 1993MTV Unplugged: Nirvana — Self
• 1993Nirvana: Live and Loud — Self - Guitar
• Rock in Rio — Self - Performer
• MTV Video Music Awards — Self
• 1981The Decline of Western Civilization — Self
• 1979Germs: Caught In My Eye — Himself
• Saturday Night Live — Self - Musical Guest
• Foo Fighters Live at iTunes Festival London — Self
• Target Video: Underground Forces Vol. 3 — Self