Georg Albert Ruthenberg (born August 5, 1959), better known by his stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician who plays guitar for Foo Fighters. He was the lead guitarist and co-founder of the Los Angeles–based punk band Germs and a touring guitarist for Nirvana. He joined Foo Fighters in 1994 and left the band in 1997, before rejoining as a touring guitarist in 2005 and once again becoming a full-time member in 2010.