Why don’t you start by introducing yourself to Punknews.org, as I’m sure many of our readers are familiar with your work but may not know it. Ok, my name is Richard Minino and I also go by HORSEBITES. I was born and raised in the concrete flatland known as Orlando. Birth town to many famous stars such as Back Street Boys, Mickey Mouse and Josh Freese. I'm the first generation in my family to live in the United States and it's pretty sweet minus all the right wing Christian bung holes. I've been drawing ever since I could remember but only recently I've seen my self taking art seriously and doing it for a living. I delivered pizza for almost 10 years to get through college and touring with New Mexican Disaster Squad.

It seems like a great deal of your effort, with Horsebites, has been directed towards creating t-shirt designs and concert prints for punk and hardcore bands. What were some of the shirts and posters that really struck a chord with you when you were growing up?

Well, I was first introduced to punk by my friend’s older brother. He played me bands like FEAR, D.I., Adolescents, Dag Nasty and Bad Brains. I was blown and at the same time I didn't know what to think about most of the shirts and album art. I loved them since I didn't see anything like it before. I was then introduced to newer mid 90's bands and I was also blown away by their sound and the look of their records and shirts. Everything was so fresh and new to me. It had bright colors and looked super intimidating at the same time. If anything the record covers had more of an impact on me than the shirts. The ones that really struck a chord with me were the Bad Brains ROIR sessions image of the capitol building getting struck with lightning, RKL Rock and Roll Nightmare because it had illustrations mixed with photos and Bad Religion Suffer that album is a masterpiece to me, art and music are so powerful!

Of all the bands and labels you have made shirts and prints for, which pieces stick out the most, in your mind, as favorites?

I was really happy with a hoodie I did for Dead To Me with two Mexican Sugar skulls on the front then some art on the back. I really liked that one because of the colors, the design and people had a great reaction to it. Those guys being my friends made me try harder to impress them and myself. One of my new favorites is a shirt called "The Biking Viking" that I collaborated with my friends on. It sticks out in my head because it was so spur of the moment and we didn't really think about it or plan and just went for it, sort of like a punk band. The more thought you put into your bands music the more bland I always feel it turns out.

Are there any bands, mainstream or indies, that you haven’t worked with but feel your style would be a great fit with?

I would definitely think my art would go pretty well with Municipal Waste and Tony (frontman) said I could submit stuff but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Soon though! I've been listening to them so much lately that I want to bash my face through the computer screen when I work or jump a curb with my car and crash it into a church.

Your work seems to be heavily influenced by your home state, Florida. Has there been a conscious effort to incorporate Floridian themes, or has it been a natural direction?

I'm not sure if it just comes out as natural or if I'm really proud to live here. Luckily I get to tour a lot and see a bunch of other states so it makes me realize that there a ton of other places I would absolutely hate to live in. It makes you not take your hometown for granted. Florida also has a certain feel to it. Especially in Orlando. There's this whole image that they try to keep as a "family vacation" place but in reality we were ranked as 2nd most violent crime city in the US last year. WTF!? So just like any city we have problems, lots of them. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. So doing art based on my hometown is natural for me because I like incorporating things that can look nice on the surface with softer colors and what not and turning them into really dirty images under the surface. I mean I'm living under the shadow of the mouse, how can that be void in my art?

Aside from Horsebites, you are the drummer for New Mexican Disaster Squad, who will be playing their final show at The Fest this year. What has the anticipation been like leading into your final shows and will you shed some light on your new band, Gatorface?

I can't really tell what the anticipation is for our last show. I'm sure our friends will come watch us. We've never been a band to beg for attention or to force people to like us so I don't think there is that much anticipation. I just know that it's going to be tons of fun because our best shows have always been at the Fest and people rage it up! I couldn't ask for any other show to be our last farewell.

Gatorface is a new band that the bass player of NMDS (Alex), our two friends Quilty and Nick started up. We're having a blast since there isn't that constant pressure to tour or do whatever. We're just having fun and playing when we want. The singer of NMDS (Sam) went to form Virgins and they rule my world. So fucking good.

Now Alex, Sam, myself and Tony from Municipal Waste have started a new project and it totally rips. We've already started practicing and it's moving along pretty quickly.

You also have some paintings in an upcoming show in Chicago. What are the details surrounding this event?

That show is gonna slay dragon balls. It's my first solo art show and I have about 20 pieces up in the Threadless Gallery on 3011 N. Broadway. Some of the art is based around the work that I've recently done for Less Than Jake for their latest release "GNV FLA" and the rest of the work is my stuff that I either had painted prior or made for the show. The grand opening is Fri Oct 10th from 7-9pm and Less Than Jake are going to do a meet and greet that night. It's going to be a blast! I wanna stick my tongue through one of the paintings just like Cory Feldman in Goonies.