In a powerful demonstation of the power of social media, a campaign to propel a 1992 anti-authoritarian anthem to number one for Christmas has succeeded.
The UK charts were released this morning and Rage Against the Machine's Killing in the Name Of was the No.1 single, having climbed 79 places in one week to claim the top spot.
The single's unlikely Christmas success is the result of a campaign started on Facebook last month, which sought to end the four-year run of Christmas No.1's for the winning contestant of X Factor, a British television talent show.
The group was started by Jon Morter, a 35-year-old logistics expert and music fan, with the comment: "Fed up with Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas number one? Me too..."
People were urged to buy Killing In The Name Of, a track chosen for its message of taking a stand against authority, to challenge 18-year-old Joe McElderry, who recently won X Factor and released his single, The Climb.
The campaign quickly grew, and more than 750,000 people were members of the group.
A post on group's page this morning read: "Congratulations everyone - a well deserved win. We've made history."
In a statement, Rage Against the Machine said: "This is a huge victory by and for fans of real music, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to every fan and freedom fighter who helped make our anthem of defiance and rebellion the Anarchy Christmas Miracle of 2009."
Simon Cowell, an X Factor judge, told the Daily Mirror newspaper he was "gutted" at losing the seasonal battle but "genuinely impressed" by the campaign.
The campaign was not a personal attack on McElderry.
About 20 million viewers tuned in to watch the sweet-natured, 18-year-old boy next door with a stunning voice win the X Factor final by public vote.
Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello said last week the campaign was aimed at countering the idea of the public being "spoonfed" what to buy.
"Your country has such a great, rich history of cutting-edge, exciting rebel music - whether it be the early Stones or Who, or the Clash and the Sex Pistols or Prodigy and Muse," the American told BBC 6 Music.
"I think people are just fed-up of being spoonfed some overblown sugary ballad that sits on top of the charts.
"It's a little dose of anarchy for the holidays. It's good for the soul."
