Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello has expressed his delight at the band securing the Christmas number one with 'Killing In The Name'.

Learning of the news that his 1992 anthem beat X Factor's Joe McElderry in the Christmas chart race, Morello Tweeted: “THE ANARCHY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF 2009!!!! THANKYOU. The people united can never be defeated.”

He later joked: "Rumor has it that next year's X-Factor winner will sing Killing in the Name for Christmas."

The good news is that Rage Against The Machine will now honour their promise of a free UK “victory gig” in 2010.

As reported earlier, Rage Against The Machine shifted 502,000 copies compared to Joe McElderry's meagre 450,000 to score the festive top spot.

The founder of the Facebook campaign behind the number one, Tracy Morter, told Gigwise: “I'm totally overwhelmed! I really thought Joe would pip us at the post. We wish him really well with his career and hope his first Christmas as an X Factor winner is awesome.”

“We just wanted the festive chart to be exciting again.”

(by Scott Colothan)