X FACTOR’S MCELDERRY TAKES BACK #1 SINGLE SPOT IN U.K. FROM RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

With the help of a grass roots facebook internet campaign, Rage Against the Machine topped the Christmas Charts in The U.K. for their hit single from 1992 “Killing in the Name” thus knocking off X Factor contestant Joe McElderry’s Mylie Cyrus cover “The Climb.” McElderry comes from U.K.’s hit show X Factor, which is based on American Idol and is also produced by Idol judge Simon Cowell. With Rage Against the Machine promising a free concert in The U.K. if they took the coveted #1 slot on Christmas, a fan in The U.K. attracted more than 450,000 members to it’s Facebook page, which is 2 percent of the U.K. Facebook population, in the two weeks of its existence. The Facebook page was built around the slogan “Fed up with Simon Cowell’s latest karaoke act being Christmas No.1?” asks the group. Then buy “Killing in the Name” as a “protest to the X-Factor monotony.” So although Rage Against the Machine had the prestigious #1 single on Christmas, since that victory McElderry came back to knock them off the top slot for the #1 single at New Years as “The Climb” sold over 196,000 units in the week leading up to December 27th.

Artisan News caught up with Tom Morello to get his thoughts on Rage Against the Machine’s music having the special power to connect with people because of a message built on a powerful musical engine.

“It’s not because of the message exclusively. It’s because the message has such a powerful musical engine that it rides on and that’s when you can really connect. It’s that combination of culture and politics and that’s when the light goes on in people’s heads and you can really make an impact.”

Before Rage Against the Machine was crowned with the top Christmas single, the past four Christmas number ones in The U.K. were all former X Factor winners with Alexandra taking home the #1 single in 2008 which followed #1 singles by Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson. Perhaps taking a page out of the ‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’ book, Simon Cowell has told The U.K.’s Daily Mirror that he offered jobs on his own SyCo Record Company to the Facebook campaigners who spearheaded the idea and Facebook strategy which helped put Rage over the top. Rage Against the Machine have invited Simon Cowell to MC their free concert in The U.K. but he hasn’t announced if he planned on being part of the event, which is currently being planned for 2010.