POP mogul Simon Cowell said he was “gutted” at losing the battle for Christmas number one last night, as Rage Against The Machine beat X Factor winner Joe McElderry in the fight for the top spot.
The rap metal act saw their expletive-ridden 1992 hit, Killing in the Name, sell 500,000 copies in one week and become the first ever Christmas number one that was available only through downloads.
McElderry’s The Climb chalked up sales of 450,000.
The 18-year-old took his defeat graciously, saying: “Fair play to the guys who have organised the Facebook campaign – it’s been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle.”
Pop mogul Cowell offered his congratulations to the couple behind the campaign, Jon and Tracy Morter.
He said: “I am gutted for Joe because a number one single meant a lot to him.”
In a phone interview for BBC Radio One’s Chart Show, Zack de la Rocha, from Rage Against the Machine, said the band were “very ecstatic”.
