Mest Rocker Facing a Murder Rap

by Natalie Finn Mon Mar 26, 9:42 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Turns out there is such a thing as bad press.

Anthony Lovato, the former lead vocalist for the Illinois punk band Mest, was arrested and jailed on suspicion of murder Sunday in Los Angeles.

The 26-year-old rocker is being looked at for the fatal stabbing of Wayne Hughes, 25, who was killed in the underground parking garage of a Studio City apartment building, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The altercation apparently began with an argument between the suspect and the victim. Then, "at some point, Mr. Lovato produced a knife and the victim was stabbed," LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Andrew Neiman said. "He has been booked for criminal homicide."

Neiman said that Lovato was the one who called 911 and that he willingly surrendered when officers arrived at the scene, telling police that Hughes had assaulted him first.

Bail has been set at $1 million.

The police had been called Saturday night to a woman's apartment in the Studio City building after receiving a call that Hughes and Lovato were fighting, but no arrests were made, authorities said. Both men were said to have been romantically linked to the woman at different times.

Lovato formed Mest with his cousin, Matt Lovato, in 1995. Joined by guitarist Jeremiah Rangel and drummer Nick Gigler, the punk-rock quartet self-released their debut album, Mo' Money, Mo' 40z in 1998. The Blue Island, Illinois natives then released four more albums on Madonna's Maverick label.

Their self-titled fourth album in 2003 boasted the single "Jaded," featuring Lovato's good pal, Good Charlotte strummer Benji Madden. Mest's final offering, 2005's Photograph, peaked at position 116 on the Billboard 200.

The men of Mest went their separate ways in January 2006, with Lovato writing in a posting on the band's MySpace page that the breakup promised to be way harder for him than for the fans.

"We are not turning our backs on our fans," Lovato wrote. "Come on. Someday I'll explain the reason/reasons. I debated telling everyone but figured it's better to be honest and to let the people know that want to see us one last time.

"It's been 10 years, five records and I've seen the world. It's been my life. Trust me, this is harder on me than any of you. I wouldn't have changed a thing."