What started as a lark for two Rage Against The Machine fans on Facebook has earnedthe bandthe top spot on the British singles charts this week.
Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" edged out X Factor winner Joe McElderry's cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" on the U.K. singles charts. That means Rage Against The Machine will have the #1 single in the U.K. over Christmas.
"Rage Against The Machine is honored to have been drafted by this historic grassroots campaign to make our song 'Killing In The Name' the No. 1 song on the U.K. Christmas Week pop chart," the band said in a statement Sunday (Dec. 20) night.
"This is a huge victory by and for fans of real music and we extend our heartfelt thanks to every fan and freedom fighter who helped make our anthem of defiance and rebellion the Anarchy Christmas Miracle of 2009."
Rage Against The Machine sold about 500,000 digital downloads of "Killing In The Name," edging out McElderry, who took in 450,000 digital downloads.
The campaign — which originally began as a Facebook group by Jon and Tracy Morter — gained the support of several artists, including Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Muse and Sterophonics.
McElderry didn't help his cause much last week when he described "Killing In The Name" as "dreadful" in an interview with British tabloid The Sun.
"Can you imagine grandma hearing that over Christmas lunch?" he said.
As well, Rage Against The Machine performed the song on BBC Radio 5 Live last Thursday (Dec. 17) before being cut off for swearing. The "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" was accidentally aired uncensored a few times before they were cut off stopped. (You can see a video of that performance here.)
Rage Against The Machine will perform a free concert in the U.K. to celebrate their chart victory, but details about when and where have yet to be announced. The band donated all proceeds from the download sales of "Killing In The Name" to Shelter, a British charity which aids the homeless.
Here's Rage Against The Machine playing "Killing In The Name" at Woodstock 1999:
What started as a lark for two Rage Against The Machine fans on Facebook has earnedthe bandthe top spot on the British singles charts this week.
Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" edged out X Factor winner Joe McElderry's cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" on the U.K. singles charts. That means Rage Against The Machine will have the #1 single in the U.K. over Christmas.
"Rage Against The Machine is honored to have been drafted by this historic grassroots campaign to make our song 'Killing In The Name' the No. 1 song on the U.K. Christmas Week pop chart," the band said in a statement Sunday (Dec. 20) night.
"This is a huge victory by and for fans of real music and we extend our heartfelt thanks to every fan and freedom fighter who helped make our anthem of defiance and rebellion the Anarchy Christmas Miracle of 2009."
Rage Against The Machine sold about 500,000 digital downloads of "Killing In The Name," edging out McElderry, who took in 450,000 digital downloads.
The campaign — which originally began as a Facebook group by Jon and Tracy Morter — gained the support of several artists, including Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Muse and Sterophonics.
McElderry didn't help his cause much last week when he described "Killing In The Name" as "dreadful" in an interview with British tabloid The Sun.
"Can you imagine grandma hearing that over Christmas lunch?" he said.
As well, Rage Against The Machine performed the song on BBC Radio 5 Live last Thursday (Dec. 17) before being cut off for swearing. The "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" was accidentally aired uncensored a few times before they were cut off stopped. (You can see a video of that performance here.)
Rage Against The Machine will perform a free concert in the U.K. to celebrate their chart victory, but details about when and where have yet to be announced. The band donated all proceeds from the download sales of "Killing In The Name" to Shelter, a British charity which aids the homeless.
Here's Rage Against The Machine playing "Killing In The Name" at Woodstock 1999:
