Jay Bentley

As you can read here I saw my all time favorite band, Bad Religion, in Malmo on the 23rd of July and in Copenhagen the night after.

 

So, on the 24th I strolled the streets of Copenhagen before I decided to go and check out the venue and found the band's tour bus. I sat down, waited and hoped for any of the band members to come out.

 

Finally Jay Bentley, the bass player, came out and I gathered up my courage, walked up to him and said hi. We talked for a bit about last night's show, touring and such when he saw my camera and asked if I was allowed to bring the camera inside the venue. I replied that I probably had to leave it in the wardrobe and Jay said "if you want to, I can give you a photo pass, and you won't have to leave your camera with someone else."

 

So I got to follow him through the back door, see the band and crew work and get my photo pass. After that we spoke a little more, about how he and Brian Baker (guitarist in the band) also do photography. Before I left I asked Mr Bentley if I could take his portrait and he said yes.

 

I still can't believe how I managed to get everything right when I was that nervous! After I had taken the shot, he asked me "did you get it?". Even though I knew that if I'd messed up I'd hate myself forever after that I just said "yeah". I didn't even have to check - I just knew I got it.

 

I really like his honest look; I didn't have to ask him not to smile, and while he doesn't, he still looks happy. I think that is how Jay really is, honest and sincere. At least, that's the impression I got.

 

Thank you Jay, for everything. And sorry for being such a fan-boy...

Done