DESCRIPTION:
From '' Killing ''
Label: Freestyle Records -- FSR7034
Format: Vinyl, 7", Single, Promo, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Jun 2007

Tracklist
A Killing
B Killing Dub

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"Killing in the Name" is a song by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, featured on their self-titled debut album, and was released as the lead single from the album in November 1992.
In 1992, the song peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

Written about revolution against racism in security agencies, "Killing in the Name" is widely recognised as the band's signature song, and has been noted for its distinctive guitar riffs and heavy use of strong language.

In 2009 the song was part of a successful Facebook campaign to prevent The X Factor winner's song from gaining the Christmas number one in the United Kingdom for the fifth successive year.
The campaign provoked commentary from both groups and other musicians, as well as gaining coverage in national and international press. The song became the first single to reach Christmas number one spot on downloads alone.

Writing

Tom Morello created the heavier guitar riffs while teaching a student drop D tuning.
He stopped the lesson and recorded the riff.
The next day the band met in a studio and according to Morello the song "Killing in the Name" was created in a collaborative effort, combining his riff with "Timmy C.'s magmalike bass, Brad Wilk's funky, brutal drumming and Zack's conviction".

Cover versions

In July 2007, a remix of the song by SebastiAn (miscredited as a Mr. Oizo remix) was Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record in the World" on his show on BBC Radio 1.

In June 2007, The Apples a funk band from Tel Aviv, Israel, released a cover on a 7" vinyl on Freestyle Records.

On 22 August 2008, Scottish alt-rock band Biffy Clyro performed a re-worked acoustic cover version of "Killing in the Name" on Jo Whiley's Show at The Reading Festival on BBC Radio 1.
The band agreed that, for this live broadcast, they would not use expletives and sung just the melody in place of "Fuck you" in the song.
The crowd were bound by no such agreement and began an impromptu mass sing along with "Fuck you" in place, audible by the recording equipment.
As this broadcast was going out live at lunchtime, Jo Whiley was required to apologize on air after the performance.

In 2008 Icelandic electronica group FM Belfast released a single called "Lotus", a minimal electro cover version of Killing in the Name.

Australian rock group FourPlay String Quartet recorded a version of the song for their 2009 album Fourthcoming.

Slovak DJ and producer L-Plus released a drum 'n' bass remix of Killing in the Name in 2008.

French band La Maison Tellier released a country-folk version of Killing in the Name in their first album (2006).

On July 4, 2010, American jam band Phish covered the song after introducing Rage Against the Machine as "one of the only other bands, other than Phish, that won't bullshit you."

Zac Brown Band has covered the song on several occasions during their live performances.

Recognition

In July 2009, "Killing in the Name" was voted at number #2 in the Hottest 100 of all time countdown poll, conducted by Australian radio station, Triple J. More than half a million votes were cast in.

In 2007, "Killing in the Name" earned a spot on Guitar World's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" at #89.

In 2002, Rolling Stone magazine listed "Killing in the Name" as the 24th in its 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.

In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as number 12 on their list of the "Top 20 Political Songs" as voted for by the Political Studies Association.

Other appearances

During one of his last performances before he died, American comedian Bill Hicks ended a set by smashing his microphone against a stool while singing along to "Killing in the Name" playing over the loudspeakers.

As part of the US War on Terror the song was used by military interrogators at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp. Music was played at painfully high volume levels for hours on end, as a form of psychological torture. "The fact that music I helped create was used in crimes against humanity sickens me" noted Morello.

In the Daria episode "The Big House", the opening guitar riffs from "Killing in the Name" can be heard in the background in the scene where Daria Morgendorffer is reading a book while her sister Quinn is pacing back and forth.

The song also briefly appeared in the South Park episode Guitar Queer-o.

During The 2010 State Of Origin in Australia this song was used for the Queensland line-up.

The song featured in the British television series Skins. Metal music fan Rich tells ballerina Grace to stick up for herself, he encourage her using the song as an example, and has her chant the chorus.

Video games

"Killing in the Name" is featured on fictional alternative rock station Radio X in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

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