Killing in the Name

1992 single by Rage Against the Machine

This article is about the song. For the 2010 documentary, see Killing in the Name (film).

"Killing in the Name"

Single by Rage Against the Machine
from the album  Rage Against the Machine
Released| November 2, 1992 (1992-11-02)[1][2]
Genre|

* Rap metal
* funk metal
* alternative metal
* rap rock

Length| 5:14
Label| Epic
Songwriter(s)|

* Tim Commerford
* Zack de la Rocha
* Tom Morello
* Brad Wilk

Producer(s)|

* Rage Against the Machine
* Garth Richardson

Rage Against the Machine singles chronology
|  | "Killing in the Name"
(1992)  | "Bullet in the Head"
(1992)

|
|

Rage Against the Machine reissued singles chronology
|  | "Killing in the Name"
(2009)  |

|
|

Audio sample

* file
* help

Alternative cover

Australasia cover

"Killing in the Name" is a song by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, and appears on their 1992 debut album Rage Against the Machine. It features heavy drop-D guitar riffs. The lyrics protest police brutality, inspired by the beating of Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

"Killing in the Name" was released as the lead single from Rage Against the Machine in November 1992. It reached number 25 on the UK singles chart. In 2009, following a public campaign protesting the British talent show The X Factor, "Killing in the Name" became the UK Christmas number one.

## Writing

[edit]

The guitarist Tom Morello wrote the riffs while teaching a student drop-D tuning; he briefly paused the lesson to record the riff.[3] The band worked on the song the next day. According to Morello, "Killing in the Name" was a collaborative effort, combining his riff with Tim Commerford's "magmalike" bass, Brad Wilk's "funky, brutal" drumming and vocalist Zack de la Rocha's "conviction".[4] Morello recorded his part on a Fender Telecaster[5] and played a guitar solo with a Whammy pedal.[6]

## Music

[edit]

"Killing in the Name" combines elements of hardcore punk and hip hop[7] and has been described as rap metal,[8] funk metal,[9] alternative metal,[10] rap rock,[11] hard rock,[12] and proto-nu metal.[13] The journalist Peter Buckley described it as "a howling, expletive-driven tirade against the ills of American society".[14] The song builds in intensity, as de la Rocha chants the line "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me", building in a crescendo the next four times and aggressively screaming the line the final eight times, culminating with the scream "Motherfucker!"[15] The word "fuck" appears in the song 17 times.[16]

The lyrics were inspired by the police brutality suffered by Rodney King and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots.[17][18][19] The refrain "some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses" draws a link between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Ku Klux Klan.[20] According to BBC News, "Killing in the Name" protests the military–industrial complex, justifying killing for "the chosen whites".[21]

## Artwork

[edit]

The cover of the CD single is a Malcolm Browne photograph of Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation in Saigon in 1963 in protest of the murder of Buddhists by the U.S.-backed regime of Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. The photograph also appears on cover of the eponymous Rage Against the Machine album.[16] The cover of the Australian version of the CD-single has the words "killing in the name", in large, red block capitals, and a much smaller and tightly cropped version of the photograph in the bottom right-hand corner.[3]

## Release

[edit]

"Killing in the Name" was released as part of a 12-song self-released cassette. The first video for "Killing in the Name" did not receive heavy airplay in the United States due to the explicit lyrics. It received substantial airplay in Europe and drove the band's popularity abroad.[22]

After signing with Epic Records, Rage Against the Machine released their self-titled debut album on November 12, 1992. It was certified triple platinum, driven by heavy radio play of "Killing in the Name".[16] In January 2025, "Killing in the Name" became the first Rage Against the Machine song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.[23][24]

### Complaints

[edit]

On February 21, 1993, the BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes accidentally played the uncensored version of the song on his Top 40 Countdown, leading to 138 complaints.[25] Brookes was recording an advertisement for the following week's Top 40 Countdown while the song played.[16][21] In November 2008, the song was played over the speakers in an Asda supermarket in Preston, Lancashire, prompting complaints from customers. Asda issued an apology.[21][26][27]

## Use in political campaigns

[edit]

In 2012, Morello demanded the right-wing UK Independence Party stop using "Killing in the Name" in rallies.[28] Following the 2020 United States elections, a video of pro-Trump protesters dancing to "Killing in the Name" was widely shared on social media. Commentators saw it as a misappropriation of the song. Rage Against the Machine responded in a tweet: "They just don't GET IT do they?"[29]

In 2022, Reuters Fact Check concluded that a viral video purportedly showing North Korea's military choir covering the song had been digitally altered. Its audio is from a video uploaded to YouTube in 2019 of an event when a thousand musicians gathered to perform the song inside Frankfurt's Waldstadion. The montage of clips of the large choir and footage of the North Korea's military arsenal such as tanks and missiles had been edited together to mislead viewers.[30]

## 2009 UK Christmas number one campaign

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Rage Against The Machine top UK singles chart

In early December 2009, the English DJ Jon Morter and his wife Tracy launched a group on Facebook encouraging people to buy the song in the week before Christmas. They hoped to prevent the winner of The X Factor, a televised singing competition, from achieving the UK Christmas number one for the fifth year running.[31][32] On December 15, the BBC reported the group had more than 750,000 members.[33]

As the X Factor song was donating some of the profits to charity,[34] the Rage Against X Factor campaign encouraged supporters also to give to charity. Alongside the group, a Justgiving page was created to raise money for homeless charity Shelter which, as of 20 December, had raised over £70,000 (approximately $110,000).[35]

After the X Factor creator, Simon Cowell, denounced the campaign as "stupid" and "cynical",[36] the group gained more attention and was mentioned on various UK news channels, radio stations and websites. Rage Against the Machine added their support. Morello said that achieving the Christmas number one would be "a wonderful dose of anarchy" and that he planned to donate the unexpected windfall to charity.[37][38] Dave Grohl, Muse, Them Crooked Vultures, Liam Howlett and the Prodigy were among many musicians and celebrities supporting the campaign.[34][39][40] The campaign received support from Paul McCartney, who had appeared on The X Factor with the finalists,[41][42] and the X Factor contestants Jedward.[43] Critics noted that both The X Factor and Rage Against the Machine are signed to labels that are part of Sony BMG;[33][44][45] Morello dismissed conspiracy claims as ridiculous.[46][47] Kasabian's Tom Meighan and Sergio Pizzorno expressed their happiness at the campaign's success in an NME interview and criticized The X Factor.[48]

Rage Against the Machine attracted controversy when they performed an uncensored rendition of the song on BBC Radio 5 Live in mid-December 2009, despite the hosts asking them to censor the expletives. During the crescendo of their performance, frontman Zack De La Rocha started out only singing "I won't do what you tell me", with a pause where he normally sings "fuck you", but after a few lines, he screamed the lyrics, "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" repeatedly. Hosts Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty apologized afterwards.[37][49]

On December 20, 2009, BBC Radio 1 revealed that the song had reached the number one spot, selling more than 500,000 copies and being the first download-only single to become the UK Christmas number one.[35] The following week, Joe McElderry's cover of "The Climb" became the last British UK number one single of the year and the 2000s. "Killing in the Name" dropped to number two, falling 38 places to number 40 the week after,[50][51] and dropping out of the top 75 the following week, falling to number 100.[52]

The campaign spread to Ireland, where, like the UK, the Christmas number one had been dominated by X Factor finalists for five years. McElderry beat Rage Against the Machine to Christmas number one, with Rage Against the Machine reaching number two.[53] On June 6, 2010, Rage Against the Machine performed at a free concert for 40,000 fans in Finsbury Park.[54] On stage, Tracy and Jon Morter were handed a representative cheque in the amount of £162,713.03, representing the proceeds from donations to JustGiving and royalties from sales of the single.[55] As a result of the campaign, the song is featured in the 2011 UK edition of the Guinness World Records under the category of 'Fastest-selling digital track (UK)', after recording 502,672 downloads in its first week.[56]

## Music video

[edit]

The video, produced and directed by Peter Gideon, a guitar student of Tom Morello who had a video camera, was filmed during two shows in small Los Angeles venues, the Whisky a Go Go and the Club With No Name. Released in December 1992, the uncensored version of the video clip was shown on European MTV but was banned on American MTV because of the explicit lyrics. As a result, the video's existence was in doubt[clarification needed] until its release on Rage Against the Machine: The Video.[22]

In 2021, in a collaboration with the arts collective the Ummah Chroma, Rage Against the Machine released a 15-minute short documentary video about the making of "Killing in the Name."[57][58] The video features anti-racist activist Tim Wise and contains footage of an interview with Zach de la Rocha, who says that capitalist society "should not stand. It should be challenged and questioned and overthrown."[57]

## Legacy

[edit]

In July 2009, "Killing in the Name" was voted at number two in the Hottest 100 of all time countdown poll, conducted by Australian radio station, Triple J. More than half a million votes were cast.[3] The song was also voted at number 17 in the 1998 edition of Hottest 100 of All Time and was voted number 6 on the Hottest 100 list in 1993.

In 2007, "Killing in the Name" earned a spot on Guitar World's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" at number 89.[59][60]

In 2002, Rolling Stone magazine listed "Killing in the Name" as the 24th in its 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time and as the 207th in its "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[4][61] In March 2023, they ranked "Killing in the Name" at number 38 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.[62]

In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as number 12 on their list of the "Top 20 Political Songs" as voted for by the Political Studies Association.[19]

In 2010, 2011, and 2012, The Rock radio station in New Zealand held the Rock 1,000 countdown which counts down the top 1,000 rock songs of all time, as voted by the public; in 2010 and 2011, the song was in the top five, while in 2012, the song was number seven. In 2011 and 2012, "Killing in the Name" was played uncensored, with a preceding message from the prime minister, John Key, approving the playing of the uncensored version of the song due to the large number of complaints received by MediaWorks New Zealand regarding the 2010 countdown not giving any warning that the song was uncensored.[63] In 2017, "Killing in the Name" made it to number 1 in the Rock 1500 and was presented by long serving broadcaster, Roger Farrelly.[64][63] In 2021, "Killing in the Name" made it to number 1 in The Rock 2,000.[65]

In 2021, the UK Official Charts Company announced that "Killing in the Name" had been named as the 'UK's Favourite Christmas Number 1 of All Time'[66] in a poll commissioned to celebrate the 70th Official Christmas Number 1 race (and as a tie-in with the book The Official Christmas No. 1 Singles Book by Michael Mulligan).[67][68]

Screen Rant named it as the 9th-best nu metal track of all time, saying "One of the earliest songs released that fits into the world of nu-metal's original songs, 'Killing in the Name' [...] set an early standard. [...] The song was a revolutionary song in the movement that fused rap and metal."[69]

## Live performances

[edit]

Rage Against the Machine burning the American flag onstage while playing "Killing in the Name" during Woodstock 1999.

The song was performed as an extended instrumental at their first public performance at Cal State Northridge, on October 23, 1991.[70] Bassist Tim Commerford is known to chant the backing vocals of "now you do what they told ya" of the chorus during most live performances.[71]

Zack de la Rocha sometimes changed the lyrics in the second verse from "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses" to "Some of those that burn crosses are the same that hold office" when playing live.[72]

As part of supergroup Audioslave, guitarist Tom Morello incorporated instrumentals from Rage Against the Machine including versions of "Killing in the Name" into their performances.[73]

Rage Against the Machine performed the song live in 1999 at the Woodstock '99 festival, burning the American flag during the song. In this performance, de la Rocha changed the lyrics to "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn churches".[74]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Killing in the Name"| 5:13
2.| "Darkness of Greed"| 3:40
3.| "Clear the Lane"| 3:47
Total length:| 12:40

"Darkness of Greed" and "Clear the Lane" were re-mastered versions of the respective demo tracks. Another version of "Darkness of Greed", titled merely "Darkness", was included on the 1994 soundtrack album for The Crow. The previously unreleased demo appeared on the XX 20th Anniversary Edition of their debut album, which was released on November 27, 2012.[75]

## Personnel

[edit]

* Zack de la Rocha – lead vocals
* Tom Morello – guitar
* Tim Commerford – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Brad Wilk – drums

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1993)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[76] | 7
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[77] | 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[78] | 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[79] | 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[80] | 8
UK Singles (OCC)[81] | 25
Chart (2009–2010)  | Peak
position

|

Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[82] | 1
Ireland (IRMA)[83] | 2
Scotland (OCC)[84] | 2
UK Singles (OCC)[81] | 1
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[85] | 1
Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

France (SNEP)[86] | 109
Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[87] | 25

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1993)  | Position

|

Australia (ARIA)[88] | 25
New Zealand (RIANZ)[89] | 32

### Decade-end charts

[edit]

Chart (2000–2009)  | Position

|

UK Top 100 Songs of the Decade[90] | 36

### All-time charts

[edit]

Chart  | Position

|

UK Download Chart (All Time)[91] | 79

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[88] | Platinum  | 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[92] | Gold  | 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[93] | Gold  | 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[94] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[95] | 5× Platinum  | 150,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[96] | Platinum  | 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[97] | 2× Platinum  | 1,200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Other uses

[edit]

Lyrics from "Killing in the Name" appear throughout popular culture.

During one of his last performances before he died, American comedian Bill Hicks ended a set by smashing his microphone against a stool while singing along to "Killing in the Name" playing over the loudspeakers.[98]

As part of the US War on Terror, the song was used by military interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Music was played at painfully high volume levels for hours on end, as a form of psychological torture. "The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me," noted Morello.[21][99][100][101]

During the 2019–20 Chilean protests, the song was covered with some of the lyrics modified alluding to the Chilean police force's misuse of violence in repressing peaceful protestors.[102]

On June 29, 2022, a Vancouver radio station, CKKS-FM (branded on-air as KISS Radio), stunted by repeatedly played "Killing In The Name" for 30 hours.[103] The song was repeatedly played on loop after the station dropped its hot adult contemporary format, resulting in the firing of its airstaff. The station occasionally paused the loop to take call-in requests, only to continue playing the song.[104] At 6:00 AM PDT on June 30, 2022, the station rebranded to "Sonic", which plays a modern rock format.[105]

## Cover versions and parodies

[edit]

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: versions may not meet WP:SONGCOVER. Please help improve this section if you can. (July 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

* In July 2007, a remix of the song by SebastiAn (miscredited as a Mr. Oizo remix) was Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record in the World" on his show on BBC Radio 1.[106]
* In June 2007, funk band The Apples from Tel Aviv, Israel, released a cover on a 7" vinyl on Freestyle Records.[107][108][109][110]
* On 22 August 2008, Scottish alt-rock band Biffy Clyro performed a re-worked acoustic cover version of "Killing in the Name" on Jo Whiley's show at The Reading Festival on BBC Radio 1.[111][112] The band agreed that, for this live broadcast, they would not use expletives and sung just the melody in place of "Fuck you" in the song. The crowd were bound by no such agreement and began an impromptu mass sing along with "Fuck you" in place, audible by the recording equipment. As this broadcast was going out live at lunchtime, Jo Whiley was required to apologize on air after the performance.[113]
* French band La Maison Tellier released a country-folk version of "Killing in the Name" in their first album (2006).[114]
* In 2008, Icelandic electronica group FM Belfast released a single called "Lotus", a minimal electro cover version of "Killing in the Name".[115]
* Slovak DJ and producer L-Plus released a drum and bass remix of "Killing in the Name" in 2008.[21][116]
* Australian rock group FourPlay String Quartet recorded a version of the song for their 2009 album Fourthcoming.[117]
* On July 4, 2010, American jam band Phish covered the song after introducing Rage Against the Machine as "one of the only other bands, other than Phish, that won't bullshit you."[118][119]
* New York-based band Emmure covered the song at the Hoodwink Festival along with "Bulls on Parade".[120]
* Zac Brown Band has covered the song on several occasions during their live performances.[121]
* Richard Cheese recorded a version the song in the style of lounge music for his 2011 album A Lounge Supreme.
* Bonded by Blood covered the song in their 2012 album The Aftermath.
* Lauren Mayberry recorded a cover version of the song along with her band, Blue Sky Archives.[122]
* Limp Bizkit covered the song live at Download Festival 2013 and Reading and Leeds Festival 2015.[123]
* Prophets of Rage, an American rap rock supergroup, formed in 2016 and including several former members of RATM, recorded a live rendition of "Killing in the Name" in 2016.[124]
* Cassetteboy parodied the song with the cut-up song "Rage Against the Party Machine", using spliced excerpts from Boris Johnson's speeches, satirizing the Partygate scandal in the United Kingdom, where Johnson, other Conservative Party members, and government staff had had multiple gatherings in violation of lockdown rules in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 Pandemic.[125]
* Starbomb parodied the song, titling it "Filling in the Name Of". The song is about "a long Tetris piece who begins to lament his place in life after being used constantly to finish Tetris puzzles". It was released on the group's third and final album The Tryforce in 2019.[126]
* Machine Gun Kelly and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker covered this song in 2020 as part of a protest movement preceded by the murder of George Floyd by a local US police.[127][128]
* Dutch producer Sefa [nl] made a Frenchcore version of the song in his 2022 album Klaagzang.[129]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Billboard". 28 November 1992.
2. ^ "Behind the Meaning of Rage Against the Machine's 1992 Hit "Killing in the Name"". 11 May 2022.
3. ^ a b c "Countdown: Hottest 100 – Of All Time". Triple J. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
4. ^ a b Scaggs, Austin (2002-12-16). "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
5. ^ Ajizian, Ara (March 2012). "You Interview Tom Morello". Musician's Friend. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2013. "That's the "Killing in the Name" guitar, the "Freedom" guitar, "Testify" … all those jams are written on that cheap Telecaster."
6. ^ Paz, Eilon (2021-12-21). Stompbox: 100 Pedals of the World's Greatest Guitarists. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 177\. ISBN 978-1-9848-6061-3.
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8. ^ Williams, Megan (13 April 2017). "Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing In The Name' performed on toy instruments". The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
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13. ^ "10 best NU-METAL party songs of all time". 16 March 2023.
14. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 844\. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
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19. ^ a b Smith, Ian K (2010-03-25). "Top 20 Political Songs: Killing in the Name". New Statesman. Retrieved 2010-03-25.List of Top 20 Political songs
20. ^ "What inspired Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name?". Radio X. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
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22. ^ a b Shelton, Sonya (2009-11-16). "Rage Against the Machine Biography: Contemporary Musicians". eNotes. Archived from the original on 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2010-05-25. "Rage Against the Machine's first video for "Killing in the Name" did not receive any airplay in the U.S. because of the language in the song's refrain."(PDF)
23. ^ Molley, Laura (January 13, 2025). "Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' and Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out' reach one billion streams on Spotify". NME. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
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25. ^ Robinson, John (2000-01-29). "The revolution will not be trivialised". New Musical Express. Archived from the original on 2000-09-15. Retrieved 2009-12-17. "Bruno played the wrong version while doing the Top 40 rundown. There were 138 phone calls of complaint to the BBC."
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30. ^ "Fact Check-Video purportedly showing North Korea's military choir covering Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name' has been digitally altered". Reuters Fact Check. 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
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34. ^ a b Colothan, Scott (2009-12-16). "The Prodigy: 'Rise Up Against The X Factor And Buy Rage Against The Machine'". Gigwise.com. Retrieved 2010-01-05. "Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics and comedians Stephen Fry, Ross Noble and Bill Bailey are amongst the other celebrity supporters of the Tracy and Jon Morter's campaign."
35. ^ a b "Rage Against the Machine beat X Factor winner in charts". BBC. 2009-12-20. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-20. "The Los Angeles rock band's hit also set two records: it is the first single to reach the top of the Christmas charts on download sales alone and has achieved the biggest download sales total in a first week ever in the UK charts."
36. ^ "Cowell: Facebook music campaign 'cynical'". BBC News. 10 December 2009.
37. ^ a b "Rage Against The Machine swear on 5 live". BBC News. BBC Corp. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-17. "Well, we were expecting it and asked them not to do it and they did it anyway – so buy Joe's record."
38. ^ "Rage Against The Machine's Morello praises chart race". BBC News. BBC Corp. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2009-12-17. "Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello has said that beating the X Factor single to Christmas number one will be a "wonderful dose of anarchy"."
39. ^ Colothan, Scott (2009-12-17). "Dave Grohl: 'I'm Buying Rage Against The Machine'". Gigwise.com. Retrieved 2009-12-17. "Grohl joins The Prodigy, Hadouken!, Enter Shikari and the Stereophonics in endorsing the Facebook campaign."
40. ^ "Liam Howlett: 'Rage Against The Machine'". TheProdigy.com. 2009-12-16. Archived from the original on 2009-12-19. Retrieved 2009-12-16. "this is the biggest rise up against the ' industry manufactured shite ' in years and thats why its important 
 and fukin funny at the same time act now."
41. ^ Hargrave, Steve (2009-12-18). "Macca Backs Rage Against X Factor No 1". Sky News. British Sky Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-18. "He's just some kid with a career ahead. I've got nothing against that, but it would be kind of funny if Rage Against The Machine got it because it would prove a point."
42. ^ Swash, Rosie (2009-12-18). "Rage Against the Machine for Christmas No 1: The celebrities wade in". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-18. "Paul McCartney, Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell get dragged into the most heated race for Christmas No 1 in years"
43. ^ Greatrex, Jonny (2009-12-19). "X Factor's Jedward support Rage Against The Machine in battle with Joe McElderry to Christmas Number One". The Sunday Mercury online. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
44. ^ Boyd, Brian (2009-12-18). "Sony the ultimate winner in rage against the X Factor machine on music". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2009-12-21. "The great irony [...] is that both the gormless Joe McElderry and everyone's favourite alt.metal anarcho-rockers are signed to the same label"
45. ^ Jones, Sam (2009-12-15). "Rage against Cowell fuels battle for Christmas No 1". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2009-12-16. "Whoever wins, though, the bosses of Sony Music will doubtless be full of festive cheer as both McElderry and Rage Against the Machine are signed to labels owned by the recording behemoth."
46. ^ "RATM dismiss Xmas No.1 conspiracy theories".
47. ^ "Rage Against The Machine: 'Christmas Number One conspiracy theories are ridiculous'". New Musical Express.
48. ^ Kasabian – 'The X Factor Is Horrible'. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
49. ^ Fletcher, Alex (2009-12-17). "RATM swear during 5Live performance". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-12-20. "He also disputed claims that their track reaching number one would benefit Simon Cowell as it is released by Sony Records."
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## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rage Against the Machine.

* "Killing In The Name" Official music video on YouTube
* Killing in the Name at AllMusic

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Rage Against the Machine

* Zack de la Rocha
* Tim Commerford
* Tom Morello
* Brad Wilk

Studio albums|

* Rage Against the Machine
* Evil Empire
* The Battle of Los Angeles
* Renegades

Live albums|

* Live & Rare
* Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium

Demo albums|

* Rage Against the Machine

Video albums|

* Rage Against the Machine
* The Battle of Mexico City
* Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
* Live at Finsbury Park

Singles|

* "Killing in the Name"
* "Bullet in the Head"
* "Bombtrack"
* "Freedom"
* "Year of tha Boomerang"
* "Bulls on Parade"
* "People of the Sun"
* "Down Rodeo"
* "Vietnow"
* "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
* "No Shelter"
* "Guerrilla Radio"
* "Sleep Now in the Fire"
* "Testify"
* "Renegades of Funk"
* "How I Could Just Kill a Man"

Other songs|

* "I'm Housin"
* "Kick Out the Jams"
* "Know Your Enemy"
* "Maggie's Farm"
* "Microphone Fiend"
* "Street Fighting Man"
* "Tire Me"
* "Without a Face"
* "Calm Like a Bomb"
* "Wake Up"

Concert tours|

* Reunion Tour
* Public Service Announcement Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Political views and activism
* Audioslave
* Future User
* Prophets of Rage
* Inside Out
* Lock Up
* One Day as a Lion
* Street Sweeper Social Club
* The Nightwatchman
* Wakrat

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UK Christmas number-one singles in the 2000s

* "Can We Fix It?" (Bob the Builder, 2000)
* "Somethin' Stupid" (Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman, 2001)
* "Sound of the Underground" (Girls Aloud, 2002)
* "Mad World" (Michael Andrews & Gary Jules, 2003)
* "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band Aid 20, 2004)
* "That's My Goal" (Shayne Ward, 2005)
* "A Moment Like This" (Leona Lewis, 2006)
* "When You Believe" (Leon Jackson, 2007)
* "Hallelujah" (Alexandra Burke, 2008)
* "Killing in the Name" (Rage Against the Machine, 2009)

* Complete list

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UK Christmas number-one single downloads in the 2000s

* "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band Aid 20, 2004)
* "JCB" (Nizlopi, 2005)
* "Patience" (Take That, 2006)
* "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Mariah Carey, 2007)
* "Hallelujah" (Alexandra Burke, 2008)
* "Killing in the Name" (Rage Against the Machine, 2009)

* 2000s
* 2010s

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Other|

* MusicBrainz release group

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