Rage Against The Machine Beat X Facter to Christmas Number 1 Spot

Posted by vicki1980 on December 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Rock group Rage Against The Machine has succeeded in the most contending fight in years for the Xmas number 1.

The band’s single, Killing In The Name, sold 500,000 downloads crushing X Factor winner Joe McElderry’s The Climb by 50,000 copies to clench the top spot.

Their success accompanied a Facebook campaign fashioned to forbid another X Factor number 1.

One retail merchant said it was a “really significant outcome – potentially the greatest chart upset ever”.

Speaking on the Radio 1 chart show, Zack de la Rocha from Rage said: “We are very, very ecstatic about being number one.”

He added it was an “incredible organic grassroots campaign”.

“It says more about the spontaneous action taken by young people throughout the UK to topple this very sterile pop monopoly,” he said.

McElderry, 18, praised the campaign, adding: “It’s been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations.”

Thanking all the fans who bought his single, he said: “This time last year I never thought for one minute that I’d win The X Factor, never mind about having a debut single out, so I’m just delighted to be in the charts.