Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello rang the Kerrang! office this morning to share his feelings at ending Simon Cowell’s four-year domination of the Christmas charts after a Facebook campaign helped the political-rock legends take the Christmas Number One slot from The X Factor’s Joe McElderry yesterday.
“It’s a banner day,” Morello told Kerrang! Editor Nichola Browne. “It’s the anarchy Christmas miracle of 2009 and we are just happy to be a part of it. We’ve been calling and texting each other all day! It’s the greatest chart upset ever in the UK and we’re just amazed that we were a small part of it.
“A majority of people buying singles in the last week made their voices heard very loudly and clearly and they knew what they were voting for and they knew what they were voting against,” he said. “We are pleased to be part of the wind in the sails of this organic grassroots campaign.”
Not only have the band pledged to donate profits of the single to the homeless charity Shelter, but they also vowed to perform a free victory gig in the UK next year to thank those who bought their single if they were to reach the top spot. Today Morello revealed that the band “are definitely coming” and are currently working out a gameplan for the show.
“We just began talking about it today because frankly we didn’t know what the result was going to be,” he admitted, “but we couldn’t be more excited about it – it’s going to be insane.
“If I have one message, it’s heartfelt thanks to all our friends, fans and freedom fighters who worked as hard as people can work to make this song Number One against incredible odds.”
Check out the issue of Kerrang! out on January 6 for our full, exclusive interview with Tom Morello.
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