Bad Religion’s Jay Bentley Reflects On 46 Years Of Punk Ahead Of Evansville Show

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, The Offspring and Bad Religion bring their Supercharged Worldwide 2026 Tour to Evansville for a 103 GBF Damn Loud Rock Show at Ford Center.

Ahead of the show, I had the chance to talk with Jay Bentley, bassist and co-founding member of Bad Religion, about legacy, punk’s unexpected path into the mainstream, and why the band is still doing this nearly five decades in.

From Warehouses To Hockey Arenas

Bad Religion formed in Southern California in 1980, playing DIY shows in warehouses long before punk had any mainstream foothold. Bentley laughed when asked what’s changed most over the years.

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“I’m staring down at the giant hockey arena the Edmonton Oilers play tonight,” he said. “That’s a big change.”

Still, Bentley sees punk’s rise in the mid-1990s not as a sellout moment, but as an expansion. When bands like Bad Religion suddenly found themselves on much larger stages, the message mattered.

“A lot of bands had something important to say,” Bentley explained. “It wasn’t just songs about drinking or partying. Punk offered another vein of rock and roll.”

The Tony Hawk Effect And A New Generation

For many fans, Bad Religion’s music reached them through an unexpected place, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series. Bentley admitted the band didn’t initially grasp how massive that exposure would be.

“Tony Hawk Pro Skater sold something like 120 million units,” he said. “That’s way beyond what any record ever did.”

For listeners in smaller Midwestern towns, especially, that soundtrack became a gateway into punk music, introducing bands like Bad Religion, Pennywise, and NOFX to an entirely new generation who might not have found the scene otherwise.

Why The Songs Still Hit Hard

Bad Religion’s catalog has always leaned into critical thinking, skepticism, and questioning authority, all themes that feel even more relevant today.

Bentley reflected on how technology and constant connectivity have changed how people process information.

“We weren’t ready for this,” he said. “Not as human beings.”

Despite the chaos of the modern world, Bentley remains grounded in gratitude. Asked what he would tell his 15-year-old self, his answer was simple.

“Enjoy the ride,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Hear The Full Conversation

This article only scratches the surface of our conversation. You can hear the full interview with Jay Bentley, covering punk history, gratitude, weird fan moments, and what keeps Bad Religion motivated, in the audio player embedded below.

Show Details You Need To Know

The Supercharged Worldwide 2026 Tour featuring The Offspring and Bad Religion hits Evansville on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Ford Center. Tickets are on sale now at Ford Center Box Office and through Ticketmaster, and this is one of those nights where being on the floor is absolutely worth it.

If punk shaped your musical DNA in any way, this is a show you don’t skip.