Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
August 5, 1959 (age 67)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Also Known As
Foo Fighters
Pat Smeaer
Pat Smear
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.
Pat Smear & the Spice Girls at a New Jersey Mall (1997) | You Had To Be There
VideoKnown For
TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
2015
TV
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1993
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975
TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Performer
2007
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
TV
The Morning Show
Pat Smear
2019
TV
Hot Ones Versus
Self
2024
TV
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
TV
Saturday Night Live UK
Self - Musical Guest
2026
TV
Rock in Rio
Self - Performer
1985
Film
Studio 666
Pat Smear
2022
Film
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
Self
2025
Film
Cobain: Montage of Heck
Self (archive footage)
2015
TV
Foo Fighters Sonic Highways
Self
2014
Film
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
Film
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2012
Film
The Decline of Western Civilization
Self
1981
Film
Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert
Self
2022
Film
Citizen Tania
Cinque
1989
Film
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017
Self
2018
Filmography
2026TVSaturday Night Live UKas Self - Musical Guest2025FilmAmazon Music Live: Foo Fightersas Himself2025FilmSNL50: The Homecoming Concertas Self2024TVHot Ones Versusas Self2023FilmFoo Fighters - Austin City Limitsas self2023FilmFoo Fighters - Live At The Town 2023as Self2023FilmFoo Fighters - Live at Rock am Ring 2023as Self2023FilmThe Teacheras Self2023FilmFoo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concertsas Self2022FilmTaylor Hawkins Tribute Concertas Self2022FilmFoo Fighters: One Less Heroas Self (archive footage)2022FilmStudio 666as Pat Smear2022FilmFoo Fighters-Superbowl LVI Aftershow in Virtual Realityas Self2021FilmFoo Fighters Live at Madison Square Garden (June 20, 2021)as Self2021Film2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonyas Self2021FilmFoo Fighters-Live From Lollapalooza 2021as Self2021FilmVax Live: The Concert to Reunite the Worldas Self - Performer2020FilmTimes Like Those: Foo Fighters 25th Anniversary2019TVThe Morning Showas Pat Smear2019FilmFoo Fighters: Rock In Rioas Self2019FilmFoo Fighters - Reading Festivalas Self2019FilmFoo Fighters: Hurricane Festival 2019as Self2019FilmFoo Fighters: Southside Festival 2019as Self2018FilmRock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert 2014-2017as Self2017FilmFoo Fighters – Landmarks Live in Concert: A Great Performances Specialas Self2017FilmFoo Fighters - NOS Alive 2017as Self2017FilmFoo Fighters - Cheese and Grain, Frome, UKas Self2016FilmThe Road to ACLas Self2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self - Musical Guest2015FilmFoo Fighters - Rock am Ringas Self - Guitar2015FilmCobain: Montage of Heckas Self (archive footage)2015FilmFoo Fighters - Rio De Janeiroas Self - Guitars2014TVFoo Fighters Sonic Highwaysas Self2012Film12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Reliefas Self2011FilmFoo Fighters The Roundhouse Concertas Self - Lead & Rhythm Guitars2011FilmFoo Fighters -T in The Parkas Self2011FilmFoo Fighters: Live At Pinkpop Festivalas Self - Lead Guitar2011FilmFoo Fighters: A Hard Day's Lightas Self - Guitars2011FilmFoo Fighters: Back and Forthas Self2011FilmFoo Fighters - Wasting Light Live From 606as Self2011FilmFoo Fighters - Live in Londonas Self2009FilmFoo Fighters - Greatest Hitsas Self2008FilmFoo Fighters: Live At Wembley Stadiumas Self - Guitars2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self - Performer2006FilmFoo Fighters: Skin and Bonesas Self2006FilmNirvana - In Utero: Under Reviewas Self (archive footage)2006FilmNirvana The Path from Incesticide to In Uteroas Self2005FilmPunk: Attitudeas Self2004FilmMedia Blitz: The Germs Story2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self - Guest1998FilmFree Tibetas Self - Foo Fighters1998FilmKurt & Courtneyas Self1993FilmNirvana: Unplugged In New Yorkas Self - Guitar1993FilmMTV Unplugged: Nirvanaas Self1993FilmNirvana: Live and Loudas Self - Guitar1993FilmNirvana: Unplugged in New York - Rehearsalas Self - Guitar, Vocals1993TVLate Show with David Lettermanas Self - Musical Guest1989FilmThe Book of Mansonas Jimi Hendrix1989FilmCitizen Taniaas Cinque1985TVRock in Rioas Self - Performer1984TVMTV Video Music Awardsas Self1981FilmThe Decline of Western Civilizationas Self1979FilmGerms: Caught In My Eyeas Himself1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Musical Guest—FilmFoo Fighters Live at iTunes Festival Londonas Self—FilmFoo Fighters - Music Video Collection—FilmFoo Fighters: Tibetan Freedom Concert—FilmTarget Video: Underground Forces Vol. 3as Self—FilmFoo Fighters: Live at Pinkpop 2026