Before discovering punk rock, guitarist Pat Smear found God. Born Georg Ruthenberg in Los Angeles, CA, on August 5, 1959, Smear ran away from home at the age of 13 to join a Jesus commune. Smear then attended an academic program for youths who were ostracized by public education. One of his classmates was vocalist Darby Crash, with whom he formed the Germs in the late '70s. Also including Lorna Doom (bass) and Don Bolles (drums), the Germs became one of the most influential punk groups to emerge from L.A.'s underground scene. However, Crash died from a heroin overdose in 1980, abruptly ending the Germs' incendiary existence. In the '80s, Smear began landing small parts in TV shows like #CHiPs and films such as #Blade Runner, #Howard the Duck, and #Breakin'. Smear released his first solo album, Ruthensmear, on SST Records in 1987; he recorded the follow-up, So You Fell in Love With a Musician, in 1992.
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