Norman Mayer Group


Norman's First Law of Reality: There is only the incomprehensible reality and the individual distortion. Every mind struggles to concoct a semblance of reality suitable to its comprehension, within the limits of its factual awareness and unproveable assumptions. Norman's Seventh Law of Reality: When men are in confrontation, they usually do foolish regrettable things. Men with megaton weapons in confrontation will do foolish regrettable things, with finality. - From a pamphlet distributed by Mayer in downtown Washington in 1982.

Norman David Mayer was shot dead on December 8th, 1982 by the U.S. Park Police for threatening to blow up the Washington Monument. Mayer had driven his van - which he told police was loaded with explosives - to the base of the Monument, which he held hostage for ten hours. Dressed in a snowsuit and motorcycle helmet, Mayer bluffed that he had a partner working with him, that the remote control in his hands was a detonator, and that there were 1,000 pounds of dynamite in his van. Eight tourists were trapped inside at the time; Mayer let them go. He planned to use the seige to draw attention to his cause: stopping the nuclear arms race. Among his demands was more media attention to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Mayer said, "They have been pretending that we are not threatened every day of our lives with annihilation. And whether by conclusion or otherwise, they refuse to give the real information about the precarious and uncontrollable situation the world finds itself in. It's up to the press." He climbed back into the van and started driving away at 7:30 pm. Park Police opened fire, hitting Mayer twice in the arm, once on the chin, and once in the left temple. Police insist they were aiming for the van's engine. Mayer was pronounced dead on the scene.


NMG is Greg (drums), Jenn (bass) and Kathy (guitar)