1974 AD ; The Legendary Band

Band Members Adrian Pradhan: Vocals and Drums Nirakar Yakthumba: Bass and Backing Vocals Manoj Kumar KC: Guitar, Keyboards and Backing Vocals Sanjay Shrastha: Precussions and Backing Vocals Phiroj Shyangden Guitars and Vocals(out of Nepal)

 

Albums Released Time Out: 1996 Samjhi Baschhu: 1998 Satabdi: 2001 Jungi Nishan: 2002 Limited Edition: 2002 Pinjada ko Suga: 2004 On Air: 2007

The Band was formed in 1994.

 The band experiments with all genre of music including nepali folk, ragas, rock, funk, blues and sometimes jazz as well.

ADRIAN PRADHAN

     Adrian played with the band in 1994 for a very short time, right after he landed from Kalimpong but he became a permanent member of the band in 1998. Adrian is a vocalist, he plays harp and drums, and he is a composer and sometimes writes lyrics as well. His musical journey started from his school days where he learned music. 

He has released his solo album called 'Aaja' as an extra project apart from the band. Adrian doesn't talk much but when does it's full of humour. Born on August 18 (Leo) Adrian has travelled to Hong Kong, India, Qatar, UK, Australia, Germany and USA on musical ventures.

Interested in: to be with nature, watching movies & hiking

Musical inspiration: friends and school teachers

MANOJ KC

Manoj Kumar KC  is best known as the lead guitarist and keyboardist of one of Nepal’s most successful rock bands, 1974AD. His diverse musical interests include Eastern and Western Classical music, blues, funk, electronic and jazz. Manoj has performed with accomplished musicians from around the world including Jessie van Ruller, Richard Hardy (Dave Matthews Band), Carol King, HFT, Jim Surley and Frank (Jefferson Airplane) among others. He has toured the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, South Korea, Thailand, India, Qatar, Italy, Denmark, Norway and, of course, his native Nepal. Manoj was nominated as the “best music programmer/arranger 2006’ and 2010' by Image Music Awards. Manoj has produced music for popular Nepali artists such as Nabin K. Bhattarai, Nima Rumba, Sugam pokharel, Deepesh Bhattarai, Sabin Rai, Adrian Pradhan, Phiroj Shyangden, Mausami Gurung, Prasna Shakya, Saroj Dutt, Sukmit Gurung, Sanjeev Singh, Sanjeev Pradhan, etc. He also scores movies and documentaries and has composed jingles and station IDs for Nepali TV and radio stations. As the instructor of Midi and Audio programs, Manoj offers courses focusing on developing fluency with prominent industry software programs including ProTools, Apple Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Sonar and other re-wire programs. An intensive 12 week program is offered where students can learn the basics of recording and work gradually up to the mastering level. Students can choose any of the above software programs, or platforms, as their main host. The Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory will be launching a 9 month core audio engineering program soon.

NIRAKAR YAKTHUMBA

 It's all in the groove! That is what bassist Nirakar Yakthumba feels. Born on March 8th, this Piscean was influenced by bass greats like James Jamerson (Motown Records), Francisco Rocco Persia (Tower Of Power) and the late great Jaco Pastorious. He believes that the key factor behind any rock, funk, jazz, or style band is a tight rhythm section on top of which soloist can ride their flights of fancy.

Nirakar loves to listen and play all types of music. He also studied various Nepali hand drums and the bamboo flute in the Bhaktapur Music School. He loves traveling and has traveled to Hong Kong, India, Qatar, Bhutan, UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Thailand, South Korea & the United State of America, playing music and studying different styles of music. .

Interested in: Sports & Acting

SANJAY SHRESTHA

Sanjay Shrestha has been playing music since he was a student at St Xavier’s school. He played in numerous school bands and Brother Josh Niraula, who noticed his talent, gifted him his first guitar. In 1997 he formed Shristi with fellow Xaverians Ashish Sinha and Parangat Moktan while studying in Campion Academy in 12th Grade. Shristi is remembered as bringing 'fusion' music to the mainstream audience in Nepal and was one of the first bands to cut a CD album in Nepal. Sanjay deferred his studies to tour America twice with Shristi, recording three albums: Made in Thamel, One Night in Kathmandu and Namaste. Sanjay joined 1974AD in 1999 as a percussionist, moving to drums in 2009. He has recorded 5 albums with 1974AD – Jungi Nishan, Limited Edition, Pinjada Ko Suga, On Air and Aath Athara. Although he is not a vocalist, he has co-written the lyrics to many of the songs and sings the song ‘Swargadapi gariyasi’ on the Album ‘On Air’. 1974AD has taken him to the four corners of the globe playing to audiences in America, the United Kingdom, India, Qatar, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong. Last October 1974AD played to over 20,000 people in Darling Harbour, Sydney. But this is not the largest audience they have played to: in 2001 they played to around 40,000 at the National Stadium in Nepal. In addition to his busy touring schedule, Sanjay has performed and recorded with many high profile national and international musicians. He played percussions on the hit album ‘Moments of Bliss’ for renowned Buddhist nun and vocalist Ani Choyang Dolma. He has also collaborated in live shows with Mukti Shakya, Robin Tamang, Deep Shrestha, bamboo flutist Manose Singh, Grammy Award winning bluegrass singer Peter Rowan, British folk singer Donovan Leech, Max Lolo from Benin in West Africa, the Sunny Jain Collective from New York, Richard Hardy the saxophone player for Carol King and the Dave Matthews Band, and Sachal Vasandani, jazz vocalist from New York, among others. While Sanjay's first instrument was the Nepali folk maadal, his experience has led him to experiment with all kinds of drums and percussions and various forms of music including fusion, rock, classical, jazz, reggae, and heavy rock. He has been a part of many ‘side projects’ including The McTwisters (led by Berkley trained Czech saxophonist Peter Kroutil), Stupa (with Spanish sax player and educator Mariano Abello), and Project Experience (with Robin Tamang, Nirakar Yakthumba, Mariano Abello, Vikku Chhetri and Raju and Ruben from Kutumba). He was also a member of Rusty Nails and Alt F4 briefly, in 1999 and 2010, respectively. Lately, he has developed a taste for reggae and performed a season with Australian reggae band Pachooka and is currently livening up the Kathmandu party scene with Joint Family Internationale. In 2009, Sanjay started Musicology, a music promotion company. Musicology has teamed up with Hits FM to hold a concert series ‘Music by the Museum’ at Patan Museum featuring Nepali musicians in fresh ways. In August 2009, Sanjay and some fellow Xaverians founded House of Music, which has gone on to become one of the premier live music venues in Kathmandu. As this goes to print, Sanjay and 1974AD are playing a music festival in Genoa Italy and then on to Norway and Denmark. 

Their Official Website: www.1974ad.com.np