Rage Against the Machine Promise Free Concert for Christmas Chart Win

Posted on Dec 19th 2009 5:30PM by Liz Colville
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Rage Against the Machine is currently duking it out with latest 'X Factor' winner Joe McElderry to earn the coveted title of UK Christmas No. 1. The band's 1993 hit 'Killing In the Name' is currently in the running alongside 18-year-old McElderry's 'The Climb,' originally sung by Miley Cyrus. RATM has now upped the ante by promising a free concert in the U.K. if they win.

According to bookmakers, McElderry is the favorite, but as of Dec. 17, RATM is in first place on the HMV and iTunes charts. The winner will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Rage Against the Machine has a Facebook group of more than 700,000 members devoted to the mission, which was started by two fans.

The fans, Jon and Tracy Morter, were motivated by the fact that 'The X Factor' and its creator Simon Cowell have claimed the UK No. 1 spot four Christmases in a row. The RATM campaign against the 'X Factor' "music machine," as the founders are calling it, is also a charitable effort to raise awareness about homelessness. Those buying the single are encouraged to donate to the charity Shelter. (A portion of proceeds from 'X Factor' sales are also donated to charity.)

Though the campaign is a grassroots movement, it has the band's full support. Guitarist Tom Morello recently explained to the press, "I think people are fed up of being spoon-fed some sugary ballad that sits on top of the charts. It's a little dose of anarchy."

As we previously reported, it's unlikely the unedited RATM track will get any airplay if it wins. It contains the line, "F--k you, I won't do what you tell me." When accidentally played by a Radio 1 DJ in 1993, it generated a flood of complaints, and on Thursday, the band performed the song on the BBC's Radio 5Live Breakfast, repeating the expletive despite orders from the BBC not to.

The performance was interrupted with co-host Shelagh Fogerty saying, "Get rid of it." She then added, "Sorry. We needed to get rid of that because it suddenly turned into something we weren't expecting. Well, we were expecting it, and had asked them not to do it, but they did it anyway, so buy Joe's record." Watch a video of the interview and the entire performance on Rock Pit.

At the proposed concert, RATM says it will invite Simon Cowell to emcee and Joe McElderry to perform. In a press announcement this weekend, Morello described it as "the victory party to end all victory parties."