Pat Smear
| Pat Smear | |
|---|---|
Smear performing with the Foo Fighters in Pensacola, FL (2008)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Georg Albert Ruthenberg |
| Born |
August 5, 1959 Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Alternative rock, punk rock, hardcore punk, deathrock, grunge, post-grunge |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | What?, Slash, Geffen, Capitol |
| Associated acts | Germs, The Death Folk, Nirvana, Hole, Foo Fighters, The Birds of Satan, 45 Grave, The Adolescents, Belinda Carlisle |
| Notable instruments | |
| various Hagstrom models Gibson SG Gibson Firebird |
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Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), better known by the stage name Pat Smear, is an American guitarist. Smear was a founding member of the influential punk band the Germs, and was the additional live rhythm guitarist for the grunge band Nirvana. He currently plays guitar in the rock band Foo Fighters, with whom he has recorded three studio albums and a live album.
Smear also appeared regularly on the MTV fashion show House of Style with Cindy Crawford.
Georg Ruthenberg was born and raised in West Los Angeles, to a mother of African-American and Native American descent, and a German immigrant father. His parents forced him to take piano lessons at a young age, and a few years later, he began teaching himself to play the guitar. Before becoming a musician, he was a very religious child and at age 13 ran away from home to join a Jesus commune. Later, he joined an academic education program which catered to students who were ostracized by public education. It was there that he met Darby Crash, who he would play alongside with the Germs in the late 70's. He lists his influences as Joan Jett, Brian James, Brian May, and Steve Jones.
As a teenager in 1977, Smear and Darby Crash formed the Germs with bassist Lorna Doom and drummer Dottie Danger (the pseudonym of Belinda Carlisle, who went on to front The Go-Go's).
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