With its uncompromising lyrics, crashing guitars and liberal use of the f-word, it is not exactly a feel-good festive hit to warm the heart this winter. But after a frantic internet campaign, Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name was crowned the number one Christmas single in the UK.


The movement to end Simon Cowell’s four-year run of Christmas No 1 singles pulled off one of the biggest upsets in chart history by propelling the rap-metal band to the top of the festive charts, ahead of Joe McElderry, the teenage winner of The X Factor.


The expletive-ridden single, famed for its closing refrain, “F*** you, I won’t do what you tell me,” sold just over 500,000 copies last week after the campaign set up by Jon and Tracy Mortner, from Chelmsford. McElderry’s ballad, The Climb, trailed well behind, selling just over 450,000 copies.


Rage Against The Machine, who had promised to “wipe the smug grin” from Simon Cowell’s face, have said they will play a free concert in Britain next year to celebrate. Zack de la Rocha, the group’s singer, said: “It says more about the spontaneous action taken by young people throughout the UK to topple this very sterile pop monopoly and less about the song and the band. We are very proud to have had the song chosen as the vehicle by which to do this.”


Guitarist Tom Morello also added that it had "tapped into the silent majority of the people in the UK who are tired of being spoon-fed one schmaltzy ballad after another".


All proceeds from the single will go to homeless charity Shelter.


Gennaro Castaldo, from high street retailer HMV, said it was a "truly remarkable outcome - possibly the greatest chart upset ever".


The expletive-laden song is a "powerful protest", he said, adding: "Rage Against The Machine may not be the ideal expression of the Christmas spirit - and many people will have preferred a more appropriate song to top the festive charts, but their anti-corporate message proved a perfect vehicle through which to register such a powerful protest."


Rage Against The Machine's last album Renegades, produced by Rick Rubin, was released in 2000 and featured covers by such artists as Eric B. & Rakim, The Rolling Stones, Afrika Bambaataa + Soul Sonic Force, MC5 and Cypress Hill.


Earlier this year, Tom Morello joined forced with Boots Riley from The Coup to record the Street Sweeper Social Club album.