Smear je nakon Germsa kratko svirao u punk sastavu The Adolescents. Nakon suradnje s Ninom Hagen, započeo je samostalnu karijeru i izdao dva albuma: So You Fell In Love With A Musician i Ruthensmear. Primio je i ponudu Red Hot Chili Peppersa da zamijeni gitaristu Johna Frusciantea (koji je tada napustio RHCP), no Smear je ponudu odbio jer mu se nije sviđao funk kojeg su RHCP svirali.
1993. je nakon poznanstva s Courtney Love, udovicom Kurta Cobaina iz Nirvane, dobio ponudu da svira u Nirvani. Smear je ponudu prihvatio i postao Nirvanin član sve do Cobainova samoubojstva 1994.
Smear se nakon Nirvane pridružio Foo Fightersima čiji je osnivač, Dave Grohl, također bio član Nirvane. No Smear je na dodjeli MTV Video Music Awards-a javno obznanio da napušta Foo Fighters.
Nakon odlaska iz FF-a, Smear se prestao pojavljivati u javnosti i počeo je producirati albume nekih manje poznatih sastava.
2007. se ponovo pridružio Foo Fightersima, ali samo kao prateći član na turnejama.
"Love Buzz" · "Sliver" · "Molly's Lips" · "Here She Comes Now" · "Smells Like Teen Spirit" · "Come as You Are" · "Lithium" · "In Bloom" · "Oh, the Guilt" · "Heart-Shaped Box" · "All Apologies"/"Rape Me" · "Pennyroyal Tea" · "About a Girl" · "The Man Who Sold the World" · "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" · "Lake of Fire" · "Aneurysm (live)" · "Drain You (live)" · "You Know You're Right"
Videografija
Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!·Classic Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind·MTV Unplugged in New York·Live at Reading
"Exhausted" • "This Is a Call" • "I'll Stick Around" • "For All the Cows" • "Big Me" • "Alone+Easy Target" • "Monkey Wrench" • "Everlong" • "My Hero" • "Walking After You" • "Learn to Fly" • "Stacked Actors" • "Generator" • "Breakout" • "Next Year" • "The One" • "All My Life" • "Times Like These" • "Low" • "Have It All" • "Best of You" • "DOA" • "Resolve" • "No Way Back" • "Cold Day in the Sun" • "The Pretender" • "Long Road to Ruin" •"Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running)"•"Let It Die"
DVD-i uživo
Everywhere but Home•Skin and Bones•Live at Wembley Stadium