HardLore Podcast Summary

Episode: Anthony DiDio: From VEIN to FLESHWATER
Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Colin Young & Bo Lueders (with an additional interviewer, likely Taylor from the Vein FM camp)
Guest: Anthony DiDio (Vein/FM, Fleshwater, Extended FM universe)

Overview

This episode of HardLore features Anthony DiDio, known for his work in Vein/FM and Fleshwater, two of the most innovative bands in contemporary hardcore and alternative music. The conversation traces Anthony's roots in the Massachusetts and New England hardcore scenes, the formation and creative processes of Vein/FM and Fleshwater, stories from the road, unique details about musical evolution, and reflections on success, setbacks, and artistic intentions.

Throughout the interview, the tone is candid, warm, and often humorous. The hosts delve deep into Anthony’s personal journey, the dynamics of both bands, and the way music, life, and scene culture intertwine.

Table of Contents

1. Early Life and Discovering Hardcore
2. Formative Bands: Life Script & East Beast
3. The Birth and Essence of Vein (later Vein/FM)
4. Recording and Releasing "Arizona"
5. Touring: First US and European Experiences
6. FM Collective and the Name Change
7. The Pandemic and "This World’s Gonna Ruin You"
8. Birth and Ascendance of Fleshwater
9. Creative Process and Songwriting Philosophies
10. Production, Touring, and Surreal Experiences
11. Personal: Food, Family, and Favorite Records
12. Memorable Quotes

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1. Early Life and Discovering Hardcore

[04:15–08:38]

• Anthony grew up in Massachusetts, with much older siblings who introduced him to music early on—his sister into No Doubt, Weezer; his brother into heavier and punk music.
• “When I was younger, they were already into music and all kinds of stuff...I loved like, Sum 41.” (Anthony, 04:15)
• He shifted to metal on his own, starting with Slipknot, Korn, and later, more technical and aggressive bands: Shadows Fall, Meshuggah, Sepultura.
• Entry into hardcore came via discovering the local MA scene: bands like The Carrier, Revenge, Death Before Dishonor, Converge, etc.

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2. Formative Bands: Life Script & East Beast

[11:23–16:07]

• Began writing and jamming with friends Matt and Josh; first band together was Life Script: "It sounded like Thursday, kind of screamo melodic. I was playing bass." (Anthony, 11:24)
• Discovery of electronic music creation through MIDI programs (“Reason 5”), leading to new approaches to songwriting.
• Joined East Beast, a power-violence band: “Playing those shows felt like the most up music I’ve ever heard…and I’m stoned in a basement.” (Anthony, 15:39)
• The desire for a band that was a true creative outlet led to the formation of Vein.

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3. The Birth and Essence of Vein (later Vein/FM)

[16:07–25:44]

• Vein was founded when material didn't fit East Beast: “I wrote two riffs back to back … Matt said, ‘He’s not gonna like that song.’ And I said, ‘F*** it, let’s start our own band.’” (Anthony, 16:06)
• Influences included screamo (notably Jerome’s Dream), Converge, and drum & bass/trip-hop. Vein was intentionally a melting pot for all their interests.
  • “As I got older...found LTJ Bukem and other cool drum and bass artists from the '90s. A lot of their aesthetics were what we were going for with Vain.” (Anthony, 20:12)
• Lineup evolved organically, pulling in friends from the scene; John joined after being a dedicated presence at shows and learning bass for the band.

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4. Recording and Releasing "Arizona"

[32:15–38:05]

• Songs heavily road-tested before recording; some, like “Doomtech,” played live for years before tracking.
• Production with Will Putney: “He knows how a good record is made...he would suggest things like, ‘Play this part halftime,’ and sometimes we’d be like ‘Nah, that’s not happening.’ But sometimes he’d be right.” (Anthony, 32:37)
• First recording attempt with Sean Fitz over two years, then fully re-recorded with Putney for the definitive version.
• The album’s release was pivotal: “Seeing people sing the words back, mosh to the songs...that’s the craziest thing in the world. Still is.” (Anthony, 38:05)

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5. Touring: First US and European Experiences

[40:47–49:59]

• First European tour was chaotic but formative, including logistical nightmares, financial mishaps, and memorable camaraderie among bands.
  • “The bus broke down…the first show it won't turn back on. Also, Vain’s not making any money. What?” (Anthony, 45:07)
• The band valued “sleepovers” in venues over hotels, for the sense of community.
• Special moments included Outbreak Fest in the UK coinciding with "Arizona’s" release: “Outbreak was like, what the…craziest show we ever played.” (Anthony, 49:21)

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6. FM Collective and the Name Change

[57:47–59:59]

• Trademark confusion with another band named Vain led to adopting the “FM” suffix.
  • “There was a band from Texas...they came after us. Technically they had music or social media presence first. They said an extension was fine…I picked FM.” (Anthony, 57:52)
• FM became the umbrella for their creative universe (Fleshwater, Living Weapon, etc.): “We kind of leaned into it as a collective...it's dope, it's cool.” (Anthony, 59:31)
• “Just call it Vain. Everyone does—it’s just legal jargon.” (Anthony, 59:52)

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7. The Pandemic and "This World’s Gonna Ruin You"

[60:44–64:56]

• Lockdown struck just before Vein was scheduled to record; the band and producer Will Putney isolated together and tracked the album.
  • “The world shut down, and then we went and made the record…we locked in the studio for a whole month. We didn’t leave.” (Anthony, 60:49)
• Anthony sees "This World’s Gonna Ruin You" as their best work, though not as universally accessible as "Arizona":
  • “It’s a record that you should listen to in the dark with your headphones on. … The people that do connect with it probably connect with it the same way that we do.” (Anthony, 63:34)

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8. Birth and Ascendance of Fleshwater

[66:34–73:06]

• Fleshwater began with Anthony and Matt demoing material as a creative side outlet, recruiting Marisa for vocals after she sent a demo track. “She just sent me a demo of Linda Claire…and it was like, all right, you’re the singer.” (Anthony, 68:33)
• Jeremy brought in as multi-instrumental secret weapon: “Jeremy is the best guitar player in the world. And he’s even crazier at bass.” (Anthony, 69:57)
• Songwriting for Fleshwater is intuitive and eclectic. Songs "just happened":
  • “The length of the song is the time it took to write it...when you’re not overthinking it and you have nothing to prove—that’s when magic happens.” (Anthony, 73:14)
• Audience response was immediate and jarring: “I was not expecting it at all…you just go, Whoa, that’s crazy.” (Anthony, 76:50)

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9. Creative Process and Songwriting Philosophies

[71:49–74:57]

• Song lengths and structures are unplanned:
  • “A song is done when it’s done…if it’s supposed to be a minute and a half, any longer it could suck.” (Anthony, 71:55)
• The “one hand washes the other” relationship between heavy and melodic projects keeps creative ideas fresh.
• Visuals and videos for Fleshwater were self-produced, with inspiration from a blend of found footage, personal nostalgia, and a DIY attitude.

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10. Production, Touring, and Surreal Experiences

[76:50–99:36]

• Describes DIY video shoots, the emotional weight of playing large shows (e.g., with Deftones), and the surreal ascent of Fleshwater.
  • “Craziest thing ever…watching Deftones play every night, that’s a dream come true.” (Anthony, 86:43)
• Details on the ambitious headline tour with extensive production:
  • “We wanted to do something really cool, a special show, not just pocketing money. Like, who cares? … We built a windmill on stage.” (Anthony, 95:00)
  • Navigated the technical challenges with the help and coordination of their close circle, demonstrating the DIY spirit persists even at higher production levels.
• The current Fleshwater lineup feels locked in: "It's better than ever...feels like a band, a unit." (Anthony, 99:36)

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11. Personal: Food, Family, and Favorite Records

[101:49–110:15]

• Anthony learned his mother’s sauce recipe—“First time I tried it, my knees hit the floor, like, I couldn’t believe it. It was just like in Ratatouille.” (Anthony, 102:36)
• Admits to a deep hatred for onions and chunky tomatoes; proud Sicilian heritage.
• Favorite fast food: cycles between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts—“America runs on [Dunkin].”
• Top 4 hardcore records:
  • Converge – When Forever Comes Crashing
  • Hatebreed – Perseverance
  • American Nightmare – Background Music
  • The Carrier – One Year Later

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12. Notable Quotes and Moments

• “I think there’s a lot, you know, that you can do. And I feel like, I still feel like I’m just getting started…as you get older, your music should get better, ideas should get better.” (Anthony, 67:50)
• "Seeing people sing the words back and know the words…only we knew these songs for years. Now, others share that same feeling. That’s the craziest thing." (Anthony, 38:05)
• "If you have forever to tinker with [a record], you’re going to spend forever. At some point, you’ve got to let it go." (Anthony, 37:46)
• “We just all went and locked in the studio for that whole month. We didn’t leave.” (Anthony, 60:49 on recording during lockdown)
• “I don’t really look online. I don’t pay attention.” (Anthony, 77:15 on online hype)
• “The song is done when it’s done...a song that's supposed to be a minute and a half, any longer, it could suck.” (Anthony, 71:55)
• "Dunkin’s for gamblers, but I’ll still drink Dunkin all day." (Anthony, 108:40)
• “There are only so many people that can do it. Now it’s better than ever because we've been touring and it kind of hit this reset...everyone's locked in, it feels like a band." (Anthony, 99:36 on Fleshwater's lineup)
• Favorite hardcore LPs off the cuff: “Converge – When Forever Comes Crashing, Hatebreed – Perseverance, American Nightmare – Background Music, The Carrier – One Year Later.” (Anthony, 109:55)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Early musical roots/punk discovery: 04:15–08:38
• Life Script/East Beast era: 11:23–16:07
• Vein’s formation/influences: 16:07–25:44
• Lineup and touring stories: 22:02–31:10
• Recording "Arizona" and production insights: 32:15–38:05
• First US/EU tours: 40:47–49:59
• The pandemic and "This World’s Gonna Ruin You": 60:44–64:56
• Fleshwater's creation and rise: 66:34–73:06
• Touring, Deftones, production challenges: 85:50–99:36
• Personal/favorite foods and records: 101:49–110:15

Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in hardcore/punk/alternative scene history and band dynamics, delivered through Anthony DiDio’s generous storytelling and the hosts’ deep scene knowledge. Whether recalling the pain and joy of van breakdowns in Europe, or the sheer awe of opening for Deftones in arenas, this conversation is full of insider anecdotes, genuine emotion, and unfussy wisdom for fans and musicians alike.

Vein/FM and Fleshwater stand as testaments to creative evolution, scene loyalty, and the endless possibilities of musical community. For fans new and old, this episode delivers both the lore and the heart of modern hardcore.