Although originally released in 1992, Rage Against the Machine’s single, “Killing in the Name,” reached Number 1 on the UK Christmas single chart. The band has released the following statement in response to the “Anarchy Christmas Miracle of 2009”:
“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 UK Christmas Week pop chart. 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.
“As promised we will play a free concert in the UK in celebration of this incredible upset victory over the heavily favored X-Factor single. We are also pleased that so much money has been raised for homeless charity Shelter and are happy to donate as well to aid this important cause. While there are many lessons that can be drawn from this historic upset, the main one is this: that ordinary people, banding together in solidarity, can
change ANYTHING, be it the pop charts or the world.”
Planned to overthrow Simon Cowell’s X-Factor winner Joe McElderry’s “The Climb” in order to raise money and awareness for homelessness, “Killing in the Name” also set two additional landmarks: the UK’s first
download-only Christmas number one and the biggest one-week
download sales total in British chart history.
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