US Rap Metal Band Rage Against The Machine UK Christmas Number 1

Rage Against The Machine have snatched the Christmas number one from odds on favourite, X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

Rage Against The Machine - UK Christmas Number 1

The US rap metal band topped the chart with their 1992 hit Killing In The Name after an internet campaign to keep Simon Cowell’s act off the festive top spot.

McElderry, 18, took his defeat graciously, saying: “This time last year I never thought for one minute that I’d win The X Factor, never mind have a debut single out.

“I’m just delighted to be in the charts.”

He added: “It’s been such an incredible couple of months, and I got the best Christmas gift I could ever have asked for in winning The X Factor.”

Killing In The Name sold more than 500,000 copies in the past week, while McElderry’s The Climb chalked up sales of 450,000.

Pop mogul Cowell offered his congratulations to the couple behind the internet campaign, Jon and Tracy Morter.

He said: “I am gutted for Joe because a number one single meant a lot to him, but I have to congratulate Jon and Tracy. They turned this into a very exciting race for the Christmas number one.

“I am proud of Joe – he worked really hard this week, but he has a great year ahead of him.”

Martin Talbot from the Official Charts Company said: “Congratulations to Rage Against The Machine on their number one. Overhauling any X Factor winner in the race for the Christmas number one is no mean achievement.

“But congratulations too should also go to Joe McElderry. He has still achieved one of the highest weekly sales of any single this year.

Source – Sky

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