Listen to Dave Grohl’s early punk band rip through their 1985 track Now I’m Alone

(Image credit: Michel Linssen/Redferns - Getty)

He’s one of the most recognisable faces in the rock world thanks to his work with Nirvana and Foo Fighters, but back in 1985, Dave Grohl was a little-known drummer in DC punk band Mission Impossible.

That year, the group recorded the track Now I’m Alone – and it’s now emerged online after it was revealed it would appear on the soundtrack to upcoming documentary Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk.

The film will explore the early DIY punk scene in Washington DC between 1980 and 1990 and will also feature bands including Fugazi, Minor Threat and Bad Brains.

Speaking about Grohl’s band with vocalist Chris Page, guitarist Bryant Mason and bassist Dave Smith, the documentary's writer and director Scott Crawford tells Rolling Stone: “Mission Impossible were a phenomenal, albeit short-lived, live band.

“I went to several of their practices in Virginia and just sat back and watch them go nuts. They were all superb musicians and watching Dave behind the drum kit was always a thrill.”

As for the soundtrack, Crawford says: “I chose these bands because they were all important bands from DC, whose music defined the era for me. Plus, I felt like their music would resonate now with listeners all around the world. At its core, this music is timeless.”

The film will launch on December 10, with pre-order details available below.

Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk
1. Jawbox – Motorist
2. Shudder To Think – Chocolate
3. Double-0 – Death Of A Friend
4. Holy Rollers – What You Said
5. Mission Impossible – Now I’m Alone
6. Youth Brigade – It’s About Time That We Had a Change
7. Kingface – Tired
8. Gray Matter – Swann Street (Live at the Black Cat, 2013)
9. Swiz – Godspeed
10. Government Issue – Where You Live
11. Marginal Man – Under A Shadow
12. United Mutation – Sensations Fix
13. Black Market Baby – Downward Christian Soldiers
14. Fire Party – Drowning Intentions
15. Soulside – Name In Mind
16. Iron Cross – You’re A Rebel
17. Void – Who Are You
18. HR – Epilogue

Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk

Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk
Writer and director Scott Crawford delves into the punk scene in Washington DC between 1980-1990 in this film featuring bands including Fugazi, Minor Threat and Bad Brains.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.