Before the week is out... Watch this

THIRTYSOMETHING music bores like to bemoan the fact that pop bands aren't discovered anymore, just created and marketed. But the truth is that it's been around a long time, ever since a certain Colonel Parker bought a young singer called Elvis Presley for $35,000 and moulded him into a rock'n'roll legend. The Colonel cleverly limited Elvis' song output to increase demand, thrust him into a film career and made millions selling memorabilia - sound familiar? Yet although he achieved notoriety for his protege, Parker shrouded himself in mystery. Tonight, Channel 4 begins a series on the greatest rock promoters by revealing the secrets of the Kingmaker himself.

`Mr Rock & Roll' is shown on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm.