Pat Smear

Pat Smear
Name	Pat Smear
Caption	Pat Smear performing
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Georg Albert Ruthenberg
Birth date	5 August 1959
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, United States
Origin	Los Angeles
Occupation	Musician, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1976–present
Associated acts	The Germs, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, The Adolescents, Twisted Roots

Pat Smear

Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), known professionally as Pat Smear, is an American guitarist and songwriter notable for his role in American punk and alternative rock. He co-founded a seminal Los Angeles punk band and later joined influential acts in the grunge and post-grunge eras, contributing to recordings, tours, and high-profile performances with major figures in contemporary rock. His career connects scenes and institutions ranging from 1970s punk venues to global stadium tours.

Early life and education

Ruthenberg was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in a milieu shaped by Southern California culture and local music venues such as the Masque scene and clubs on the Sunset Strip. He attended local schools in Los Angeles County, California and became involved with peers from the punk milieu that also included figures associated with Black Flag, X, and The Germs contemporaries. Early influences included touring acts who played Southern California venues like Whisky a Go Go and artists connected to labels such as Slash Records and Epitaph Records. His formative years overlapped with the rise of independent fanzines and underground publications that chronicled bands such as The Runaways, The Ramones, and Sex Pistols.

Career with The Germs and early projects

In 1976 Ruthenberg co-founded The Germs alongside vocalist Darby Crash and drummer Don Bolles, becoming a central figure in the Los Angeles punk movement. The Germs recorded the landmark album "(GI)" produced by Joan Jett for Slash Records, and the band gigged at venues including Whisky a Go Go and the Masque. Following Darby Crash's death, Ruthenberg participated in post-Germs projects and collaborations with musicians from bands such as The Weirdos, X, and Fear, contributing to the cross-pollination of the Southern California punk community. He played in groups that intersected with scenes associated with labels and producers like SST Records and Brian Eno-adjacent experimental circles, and he worked with members of The Adolescents and other punk-era personnel.

Nirvana and Foo Fighters tenure

Ruthenberg joined Nirvana as a touring guitarist for their 1993 world tour, appearing onstage with Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl during notable performances including the MTV Video Music Awards and major festival appearances. After Cobain's death, Ruthenberg worked with Dave Grohl when Grohl formed Foo Fighters. He became a full-time member of Foo Fighters, contributing to studio albums and worldwide tours that included headline appearances at events such as Glastonbury Festival, Lollapalooza, and stadium tours alongside acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, and Muse. With Foo Fighters he participated in recordings and performances that received recognition from institutions such as the Grammy Awards and played on albums produced by figures like Butch Vig and Gil Norton.

Other collaborations and solo work

Beyond his primary bands, Ruthenberg has collaborated with a wide range of artists and projects, performing with musicians from The Damned, Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, and members of the Sex Pistols lineage. He has appeared on tribute projects and benefit concerts that involved organizations and events such as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame retrospectives and charity shows supporting causes linked to figures like Johnny Ramone tributes. Ruthenberg pursued solo performances and one-off bands, participated in reunion shows for landmark punk acts, and contributed to soundtrack sessions for films and television involving producers and studios connected to Hollywood and independent film festivals.

Musical style and equipment

Ruthenberg's playing blends elements from punk pioneers such as The Stooges, The Ramones, and The Clash, with melodic approaches found in post-punk and alternative rock exemplified by bands like R.E.M. and Sonic Youth. His stage sound often relies on vintage and modern electric guitars associated with players from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and The Who, and amplifiers and effects favored by artists who recorded with producers such as Steve Albini and Butch Vig. Onstage he has used instruments and gear similar to models endorsed by guitar manufacturers linked historically to acts like Gibson, Fender, and boutique builders favored by touring professionals. His technique emphasizes aggressive strumming, concise solos, and stage showmanship developed through appearances with major festival lineups and television performances.

Personal life and legacy

Ruthenberg's personal life includes long-term residence in the Los Angeles area and connections to scenes and institutions spanning multiple generations of rock music. He remains associated with legacy projects and archival releases that document the Los Angeles punk era, contributing to museum exhibits and retrospectives related to venues and movements like the Masque and West Coast punk history curated by organizations such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and academic studies of popular music. His legacy is reflected in influence on younger guitarists who cite punk and alternative figures from cohorts including Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer as part of a lineage reaching back to the 1970s and 1980s punk milieu.

Category:American rock guitarists Category:Musicians from Los Angeles Category:Living people Category:1959 births