Who were The New English?
The New English were a London indie pop band of the late 1980s, built around Johnny Rasheed (bass and vocals) and Shareef C (guitar).
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Questions and answers
Direct answers about the band and the archive, each with the sources behind it.
Where were The New English from?
Fulham, in south-west London.
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Is this the same New English as other acts with that name?
No. This archive covers the late-1980s London band The New English and the later work of its members. Other acts and publications with similar names are separate, including The New English Rock Ensemble, the 2005 album New English on Popster, The New English Weekly and New English Review.
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When was the band active?
The main period ran from 1986 to March 1988, and the band reunited for a show in Bonn on 17 February 1990.
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Who were the members?
Johnny Rasheed (bass and vocals), Shareef C (guitar), Joz (vocals) and Sara (drums). Dave Beech played bass in the predecessor project, The Fallen Idols.
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What kind of music did they play?
Indie pop, with reference points including Felt, Morrissey, the Redskins, the Woodentops, the Smiths and the Housemartins. Johnny Rasheed later described a move towards soul pop.
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Which performances are documented?
Fanzines reviewed the band at the Tunnel Club, Greenwich, on 28 October 1986 and at Le Beat Route, London, on 23 February 1987. Other dates include the Rock Garden, Zeeta’s in Putney, Dingwalls, the Wimbledon Festival and Reading. The full list is on the homepage.
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Did The New English appear on television?
Yes. The band appeared on the BBC Two programme Network East in 1987, its first national television appearance.
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What is London 1987?
London 1987 is an eleven-track digital album by The New English, released on 2 January 2019 with a RipItUp Records credit. It includes studio tracks and two live recordings from Bonn.
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Did the band release a record in the 1980s?
No commercial release from the 1980s appears in this archive. The band recorded demos, including a two-song tape reviewed in What’s Happening?. A CDr called London 1987 followed in 2001 and the digital album in 2019.
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Where can I listen to The New English?
London 1987 is on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and Tidal. Links are in the Recordings section of the homepage, with eight videos on YouTube.
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Is Inspiration a New English album?
No. Inspiration is a 1993 solo CD by Johnny Rasheed on Jackfruit Music, with eight songs and Shareef C on guitars.
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What was The Internationalists?
The Internationalists were an acoustic duo of Johnny and Shareef, formed in December 1991. They played Bracknell Festival in July 1997.
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Are there videos of the band?
Yes. Eight videos are on YouTube and can be played from the homepage.
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- Y01YouTube upload: The New English - The Day After Tomorrow
- Y02YouTube upload: The New English - This Evening
- Y03YouTube upload: The New English - You Make My Day Shine
- Y04YouTube upload: The New English - Get Ready!
- Y05YouTube upload: The New English - You Make My Day Shine (99Mix)
- Y06YouTube upload: The New English "This Evening"
- Y07YouTube upload: The New English - Get Ready! (Live)
- Y08YouTube upload: The New English - Bracknell Festival July 1997