KILLING IN THE NAME
by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
By 2009, it was an established tradition that the winner of that year's X Factor would release a single - most likely a cover - that would shoot to the top of the chart and claim the Official Christmas Number 1.
But it was unlucky Joe McElderry whose moment in the sun was used as an experiment by Jon and Tracy Morter for some good old fashioned grassroots campaigning, with an effort to get US rock group Rage Against The Machine to Number 1 instead with their 1993 single, Killing In The Name.
Sadly for Joe, the campaign was successful. His cover of Miley Cyrus's The Climb had to settle for Number 2 come the biggest chart week of the year, while Rage Against The Machine claimed their first-ever chart-topper, and 2009's Official Christmas Number 1.
To celebrate, Rage Against The Machine played a free concert at London’s Finsbury Park, and handed over a cheque for £162,000 raised by royalties of the single, which went to homeless charity Shelter.
Music video
Official Singles Chart
Official Singles Chart
Official Singles Downloads Chart
Official Singles Downloads Chart
End of Year Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position8
- LabelEPIC
- Catalogue number6584922
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 0No. 1
- 1Top. 10
- 1Top. 20
- 1Top. 40
- 1Top. 75
- 1Top. 100
Chart run
1 week - 09/01/2010
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Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart
Official Rock & Metal Singles ChartChart facts
- Peak position1
- LabelEPIC
- Catalogue number6584922
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 3No. 1
- 14Top. 10
- 51Top. 20
- 544Top. 40
- 544Top. 75
- 544Top. 100
Chart run
39 weeks - 10/01/2009 to 03/10/2009
1 week - 28/11/2009
1 week - 14/08/2010
1 week - 28/08/2010
1 week - 09/04/2011
1 week - 24/09/2011
1 week - 21/01/2012
1 week - 05/05/2012
1 week - 19/05/2012
1 week - 03/11/2012
1 week - 02/11/2013
1 week - 15/03/2014
1 week - 05/04/2014
1 week - 21/06/2014
1 week - 17/01/2015
1 week - 28/03/2015
1 week - 13/06/2015
1 week - 07/04/2016
1 week - 21/04/2016
1 week - 24/08/2017
58 weeks - 12/10/2017 to 15/11/2018
1 week - 28/05/2020
1 week - 29/10/2020
1 week - 11/02/2021
67 weeks - 11/11/2021 to 16/02/2023
1 week - 20/04/2023
1 week - 08/06/2023
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