Patrick Pentland

Patrick Pentland (born 20 September 1969) is a member of the Canadian rock band Sloan. All four members of Sloan write, produce, and sing their own songs. Patrick plays guitar, bass, keyboards in the studio, and occasionally plays drums live.

Patrick was born in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, UK. He emigrated to Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, in 1975 with his father (Richard), mother (Patricia) and sister (Danielle). In 1977 Patrick's father's work saw them moving to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for 18 months. Returning to Nova Scotia in 1979, they settled in Middle Sackville (outside Halifax) where Patrick remained until he moved out of the family home in 1991.

Patrick attended Sackville High and Millwood High. After graduating he attended the University of King's College, entering the school's prestigious journalism program. He left the program in his second year, and eventually graduated with a BA in history, of which he claims to have retained very little knowledge.

It was during high school that he became serious about playing music, guitar in particular. Patrick's father, Dick Pentland, had played in rock bands, or show bands as they were known, in Northern Ireland throughout the 1960s and early '70s. This had an impact on Patrick, who wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. He had learned recorder in grade school, and played saxophone in his junior high school band, but he eventually settled on guitar as his main instrument.