In the beginning, 3B LAB.☆ consisted of the two former 19 members, Takatoshi Chiba (bass/leader) and Kenji Okahira (vocals/guitar). Masahiro Tamakoshi (drums) joined them a little later, and that's how the band began as 3B LAB.☆.
On November 21, 2002, they released their first mini-album 3B LAB.☆ which was their major debut as well. Their popularity increased rapidly, and so did their number of releases. In a few years they released six singles, two DVDs, several band scores, photo books, and two albums. Their third album, Tasogare Evolution #3, stood out compared to their older releases as the music had more variety, yet keeping the typical 3B LAB.☆ sound.
To be able to play these new songs live, they recruited two new musicians in the band, which became official members on September 11, 2005. Shuuji joined as the second guitarist and Shoji Metasonik (Shoji Kawashiro) joined as keyboard player. To make the change in the line-up clear to everyone, they changed the band name by adding an 'S' on the end, standing for the first letter of the two new members names. So, from that moment on they were called 3B LAB.☆S.
However, after the release of their album Friendship #4 and several lives, Shoji Metasonik left the band in July 2006. As a quartet, they released two successful best-of albums in September. One of them contained the ballads of the band only, the other containing punk songs. In 2007 3B LAB.☆S continued live activity, and by summer they released two singles and the album Nippon #5 as well as a new PV collection on DVD. By spring of the next year, they had released Upper BEST Ballade BEST and focused on touring through the remainder of the year.
By 2009, 3B LAB.☆S was put on the back-burner while vocalist Okahira explored solo opportunities. He spent a better part of the year touring extensively with a 27 stop tour, finishing up at Zepp Nagoya. By November, he released a DVD of the final show. In June of 2010, Okahira released a singles collection with music from 1991 to 2010. He soon after picked up and continued a solo tour which wrapped up in September.
While activity from 3B LAB.☆S has been quiet for the past few years and Okahira has continued his solo work, the future of the band is unknown. However with 2011 in its first weeks, the new year may bring new things to this talented quartet.
