Rage Against the Machine

When an Essex DJ launched a Facebook campaign to keep 2009's X Factor winner from its accustomed Christmas Number 1 slot, nobody thought he had much chance of success. When they heard the brutal mix of punk, heavy metal and hip-hop he'd selected for the battle, they thought he had NO chance. Yet the torrential protest song Killing In The Name ended up as Christmas Number 1 and LA's impassioned Rage Against The Machine made chart history. The controversial track originally appeared on their 1992 self-titled debut album (one recorded version featured 17 repetitions of the F-word!), helping to establish their reputation as one of rock's angriest bands. Sticking closely to their political ideals and anti-establishment stance, they built a fanatical following, but split in 2000 after internal disputes, with Zack de la Rocha working on a solo album and the other three forming Audioslave. However, they reunited in 2007 with spectacular results...