Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), better known by the stage name Pat Smear, is a Grammy-winning American musician and occasional actor. Smear was a founding member of the influential punk band the Germs, and was touring guitarist for the grunge band Nirvana from 1993 to 1994. He currently plays guitar in the rock band Foo Fighters, with whom he has recorded four studio albums and a live album.\n', '

Smear also appeared regularly on the MTV fashion show House of Style (1998–2000) with Cindy Crawford.\n', '

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 left home to join a commune.\n', '

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