The Slow Life and Fast Death of DJ Screw
Until he overdosed in November, he was one of the most influential cultural figures in Texas, the master of a scene fueled by drugs and his own brilliant, eccentric music.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue. Mike graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1979 with a degree in government. He wrote for various publications, including Trouser Press, Third Coast Magazine, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Austin Chronicle. In 1997, he joined Texas Monthly, where he has won two Texas Gavel Awards from the State Bar of Texas and four Stephen Philbin Awards from the Dallas Bar Association. He was named Writer of the Year at the City and Regional Magazine Awards in 2015. His stories have appeared in The Best American Magazine Writing, The Best American Sports Writing, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Da Capo’s Best Music Writing, the New York Times, and Men’s Journal. Mike is also a musician and has played in Austin bands the Wild Seeds, the Setters, the Lollygaggers, and the Savage Trip. He pitches for the Burkas, the Texas Monthly softball team.
Until he overdosed in November, he was one of the most influential cultural figures in Texas, the master of a scene fueled by drugs and his own brilliant, eccentric music.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
It’s time to halt executions in Texas.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Thirty-seven men, 525 years behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit. Thanks to DNA testing, their claims of innocence have finally been proved—but what happens to them now?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Ernest Willis spent seventeen years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. And he has a few things to say about the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004 for a strangely similar crime that many experts believe he didn’t commit either.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Michael Hall’s exclusive interview with Ernest Willis.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
As the peculiar case of a Fort Bend sheriff’s deputy and his bloodhounds makes clear, the techniques of crime-scene investigation are not as infallible as the TV shows would have us believe. How a misplaced faith in some forensic experts is putting innocent people behind bars.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Cormac McCarthy’s birth date and birthplace are just two of the facts about him that have eluded his rabid fans—until now. A dossier on the most fiercely private writer in Texas.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Twenty-five years after his death, Sam Hopkins is still one of the most influential bluesmen in history—that much we know. But we don’t know nearly enough about who he was.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Want to see the Texas of Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mance Lipscomb, and other pioneering musicians of the twentieth century? Your trip through time begins near Washington-on-the-Brazos.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Freedom for Earnest Willis?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The short life and tragic death of Johnny Romano, the youngest professional skateboarder ever.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Dallas
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Most people from Dallas who make it big in the music business get out of town as soon as they can. “That’s what celebrities do,” Erykah Badu says. “I never wanted to be a celebrity.”
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Before Elvis Presley became an overweight entertainer in a rhinestone jumpsuit, there was a brief, more innocent time when he wore khakis as an Army private in Central Texas. It was his last chance to be a normal human being. And to be happy.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Her decision to close the door on a death row inmate’s final plea has earned the state’s top criminal judge lasting infamy and a misconduct investigation that goes to trial this month. But was she wrong?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Secret Service Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Cuban Exiles Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The CIA Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
JFK was killed by (a) the mob, (b) Castro, (c) the FBI, (d) the CIA, or (e) none of the above? Decide for yourself.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Mafia Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Vietnam Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The LBJ Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Shadow Government Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The KGB Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The FBI Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Conspiracy theories: The Castro Theory.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
How the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals mistakes toughness for fairness—and gives the state a black eye.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
For all her talent and poise, Beyoncé didn't become the biggest star in the world without help. And she got plenty of it from the people who know her best.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
I know her as my mother, whose womb I emerged from more than fifty years ago. They—the million or so quilting fanatics, mostly women, who spend hours a day with needle, thread, fabric, and sewing machine—know her as a celebrity. She can’t believe it either.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
On November 5, 181,500 people crowded into a former cow pasture north of Fort Worth to watch 43 race cars drive really, really fast for five hundred miles. That day, the Texas Motor Speedway would be, measured by population, one of the largest cities in the state. Welcome to NASCAR,
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
South from Alpine to Study Butte, west to Presidio, north to Marfa, and east to Alpine.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Where are the best places to eat barbecue in Texas? Six years ago we published a highly subjective—and hotly debated— list of our fifty favorite joints, and now we’ve gone back for seconds. Ten intrepid souls drove more than 21,000 miles in search of 2003’s worthiest ‘cue. Here’s what they
Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pat’s Pick, for Texas Monthly.
Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002.
John Spong writes primarily about popular culture.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
If the Corsicana native is the best songwriter in Texas, perhaps it's because he knows his material. Hardscrabble upbringing. Sinful behavior. Redemption. Personal tragedy. Profound sorrow. And, finally, more redemption.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Old country and western in Mingus, zippy zydeco in Bridge City: The shows always go on at these ten tuneful spots.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Los Angeles How the West is fun.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
These five weekend getaways will make you want to do just that.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Cops who threaten torture. Prosecutors who go too far. Defense lawyers who sleep on the job. And an appellate court that rubber-stamps it all. Let’s be tough on crime, but let’s also see that justice is done.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The legendary honky-tonk is getting some help from an unlikely source: Transwestern, a giant real estate developer.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
When a rare white buffalo was born in North Texas, thousands came to celebrate the new age he heralded. A year later the animal was dead.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Todd Trotter is trying to make a film about Richard LaFuente, who has served 26 years in prison for a crime he says he did not commit.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Washington, D.C., has Abraham Lincoln, Salt Lake City has Brigham Young, Philadelphia has Rocky Balboa. And now Austin has Willie. The massive bronze sculpture, which was commissioned by a local group called Capital Area Statues, rests downtown at the corner of Willie Nelson Boulevard (formerly Second Street) and Lavaca outside the new studios of Austin City
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The country singer battled former world champ boxer Ann Wolfe for bragging rights in dominoes. So who took home the title?
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Senior editor Michael Hall, a lifelong Packers fan, writes a love letter to the Houstonian, who hoisted the mirror ball-trophy on last night's DWTS finale.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Austin finally sees its first resident accepted into the venerable institution.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
What did Kerry Max Cook actually win on Monday, when he was granted his request for DNA testing? Not a lot, most likely.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Fifteen years after being released from death row, Kerry Max Cook is still looking for freedom.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Tyler's paper of record just published an article about former death row inmate Kerry Max Cook. Let me tell you the rest of the story.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
The Court of Criminal Appeals examined the case of Richard Miles, applied common sense and legal logic, and determined that he was innocent.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
Texas Monthly senior editor Michael Hall on why GQ's story about Jerry Joseph, the too-good-to-be-true athlete in Odessa, was one of his favorites of the year.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.
It has been twenty years since four teenage girls were murdered in a north Austin yogurt shop—and still no answers.
Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue.