Rage Top Xmas Chart After Web Campaign
Rage Against The Machine have snatched the Christmas number one from X Factor winner Joe McElderry.
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.
Gennaro Castaldo, from high street retailer HMV, said the bad weather could have prevented McElderry fans getting to the shops to buy his CD.
He said: "This is a truly remarkable outcome - possibly the greatest chart upset ever. Everyone thought the momentum was with Joe going into the weekend.
"The Rage Against The Machine internet campaign galvanised music fans to protest against the dominance of the reality show in recent years."
"Rage Against The Machine may not be the ideal expression of the Christmas spirit, but their anti-corporate message proved a perfect vehicle through which to register such a powerful protest."
The US band said on their website they would play a free UK gig if their song went to No1.
The past four Christmas number ones were by X Factor winners. Alexandra Burke's version of Hallelujah last year was one of the biggest selling festive singles ever.
