On the permanently hysterical Headline News cable TV network, a pundit is spluttering with outrage that Michael Jackson's children are going to be sharing a roof with Joe Jackson, the father who whipped and psychologically abused his pop star son.

Meanwhile, Jackson Snr's shameless plugs for a new record company in front of the world's media four days after the death of his son have prompted waves of condemnation.

The controversial patriarch of the Jackson clan is back in the limelight, wheeling and dealing and, with his wife, filing court papers to control his son's estate.

The return of the iron-willed music business manager has been an uneasy reminder of his past as the parental abuser who drove his talented children to become pop idols. There is no lack of irony in the fact that the father many vilify for destroying his famous son's childhood now has his hands on the pop star's future.

He emerged into the public eye fully on Sunday when he appeared at the BET awards in Los Angeles. Wearing his trademark fedora and wraparound sunglasses, he trod the red carpet to represent the family. He spoke proudly of his son, paid tribute to "a superstar", and promoted his new record label.

He told Don Lemon of CNN: "I want to make this statement, this is a real good statement here." He introduced his business partner, Marshall Thompson, formerly lead singer of the Chi-Lites group. “Marshall and I, we own a record company called Ranch Records.” Mr Thompson explained that Ranch Records, which will employ Blu-Ray technology, is the “next step” for Joe Jackson.

At a press conference outside the family home the next day, the first major appearance by a family member in front of the massed cameras, he was at it again. "We have a lot of good artists pitching to come out," he said.

The Rev Al Sharpton, activist and family friend who was appearing alongside Mr Jackson, felt it necessary to point out: "Some misinterpreted why Mr Jackson went and what he said. He said it and went because he wanted to send a signal to the world that the Jackson family is going to continue doing what Michael did: give music and love to the world across all boundaries and across all nationalities."

The estate is clearly on his mind. He and Katherine Jackson have moved quickly to take control of their son's complicated personal and financial affairs, winning temporary custody of his three children and asking a judge to name Katherine Jackson as administrator of his estate.

They want to take charge of both his debt-ridden but potentially lucrative financial empire, including his recording catalogue which his father could potentially rerelease through his new record company. There could also be recordings in Jackson's estate that he had never released.

Jackson Snr issued an emphatic statement at the show that he and his wife have the "personal and legal authority to act, and solely ... have authority for our son and his children", even before the court documents were filed.

Joseph and Katherine Jackson married in 1949 and settled in Gary, Indiana. They have nine children together, Michael being one of the youngest.

Jackson was a boxer, a guitarist for a local band and a crane operator at US Steel. When he recognised the musical talents of his children, he organised and trained the Jackson 5, also serving as their manager.

Michael Jackson said that his father beat him and that "just a look would scare you." He claimed that he would get physically sick, as a child and as an adult, just at the sight of his father.

Joe Jackson admitted to the BBC in 2003: "I whipped him with a switch and a belt...I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

Joe Jackson remained president of Jackson Family Entertainment Inc and opened the Joe Jackson Talent Agency. In 1999, he filed for bankruptcy.

In 2005, he launched Joe Jackson's Hip-Hop Boot Camp, a rap contest meant to find "the best hip-hop artist in the world".

In more recent years, particularly since Jackson had a family of his own, there appears to have been something of a reconciliation. At Michael's 2005 molestation trial, his father accompanied him, holding his hand while walking to court. Michael Jackson and his children attended his parent's 60th wedding anniversary celebrations in Las Vegas recently.

But past controversies may continue to haunt Jackson Snr as he mourns his son, his age and parenting skills are likely to be brought up in court if custody of Michael's three children is contested.

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