Killing in the Name

"Killing in the Name"
US promotional CD single
Single by Rage Against the Machine
from the album Rage Against the Machine
ReleasedOctober 20, 1992 (1992-10-20)
Genre
Length5:14
LabelEpic
Songwriters
Producers
Rage Against the Machine singles chronology
"Killing in the Name"
(1992)		 "Bullet in the Head"
(1992)
Audio sample
Music video
"Killing in the Name" on YouTube

"Killing in the Name" is a song by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, released on their debut studio album, Rage Against the Machine (1992). It was serviced to US radio on October 20, 1992, as a promotional single. It features heavy drop-D guitar riffs.

"Killing in the Name" reached number 25 on the UK singles chart. In 2009, following a public campaign protesting against the British talent show The X Factor, "Killing in the Name" became the UK Christmas number one. Rolling Stone ranked it at 207 in its 2021 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Writing

The guitarist, Tom Morello, wrote the "Killing the Name" riff while teaching a guitar student how to use drop-D tuning; he briefly paused the lesson to record the riff. Rage Against the Machine worked on the song the next day. According to Morello, it was a collaborative effort, combining his riff with Tim Commerford's "magmalike" bass, Brad Wilk's "funky, brutal" drumming and vocalist Zack de la Rocha's "conviction". Morello recorded his part on a Fender Telecaster and played the solo with a Whammy pedal. The song has been linked by critics to the police brutality suffered by Rodney King and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Music

"Killing in the Name" combines elements of hardcore punk and hip hop and has been described as rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal, and hard rock. The journalist Peter Buckley described it as "a howling, expletive-driven tirade against the ills of American society". The song builds in intensity, as de la Rocha chants the line "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me", building in a crescendo the next four times and aggressively screaming the line the final eight times, culminating with the scream "Motherfucker!" The word "fuck" appears 17 times.[citation needed]

The refrain "some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses" draws a link between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Ku Klux Klan. According to BBC News, "Killing in the Name" protests the military–industrial complex, justifying killing for "the chosen whites".

Release

"Killing in the Name" was released as part of a 12-song self-released cassette. It was serviced to US radio on October 20, 1992, as the first single from their self-titled debut studio album (1992). In January 2025, "Killing in the Name" became the first Rage Against the Machine song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

On February 21, 1993, the BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes accidentally played the uncensored version of the song on his Top 40 Countdown, leading to 138 complaints. Brookes was recording an advertisement for the following week's Top 40 Countdown while the song played. In November 2008, the song was played over the speakers in an Asda supermarket in Preston, England, prompting complaints from customers. Asda issued an apology.

Use in political campaigns

In 2012, Morello demanded the right-wing UK Independence Party stop using "Killing in the Name" in rallies. Following the 2020 United States elections, a video of pro-Trump protesters dancing to "Killing in the Name" was widely shared on social media. Commentators saw it as a misappropriation of the song. Rage Against the Machine responded in a tweet: "They just don't GET IT do they?"

In 2022, Reuters Fact Check concluded that a viral video purportedly showing North Korea's military choir covering "Killing in the Name" had been digitally altered. Its audio was taken from a video uploaded to YouTube in 2019 of an event when a thousand musicians gathered to perform inside Frankfurt's Waldstadion. The montage of clips of the large choir and footage of the North Korea's military arsenal such as tanks and missiles had been edited together to mislead viewers.

2009 UK Christmas number one campaign

In early December 2009, the English DJ Jon Morter and his wife, Tracy Morter, launched a group on Facebook encouraging people to buy "Killing in the Name" in the week before Christmas. They hoped to prevent the winner of The X Factor, a televised singing competition, from achieving the UK Christmas number one for the fifth year running. That year's X Factor winner was Joe McElderry, who released a cover of the Miley Cyrus song "The Climb" as the Christmas single. On December 15, the Facebook group had more than 750,000 members.

As the X Factor song was donating some profits to charity, the Rage Against X Factor campaign encouraged supporters also to give to charity. A Justgiving page was created to raise money for the homeless charity Shelter. As of 20 December, it had raised over £70,000 (approximately $110,000).

After the X Factor creator, Simon Cowell, denounced the campaign as "stupid" and "cynical", it gained more attention and was mentioned on UK news channels, radio stations and websites. Rage Against the Machine added their support. Morello said that achieving the Christmas number one would be "a wonderful dose of anarchy" and that he planned to donate the proceeds to charity. The campaign was supported by musicians and celebrities including Dave Grohl, Muse, Them Crooked Vultures, Kasabian, Liam Howlett and the Prodigy. It also received support from Paul McCartney, who had appeared on The X Factor with the finalists, and the X Factor contestants Jedward. Critics noted that both The X Factor and Rage Against the Machine are signed to labels that are part of Sony BMG; Morello dismissed conspiracy claims as ridiculous.

Rage Against the Machine attracted controversy when they performed "Killing in the Name" uncensored on BBC Radio 5 Live in mid-December 2009, despite the hosts asking them to censor the expletives. During the crescendo, de la Rocha began singing "I won't do what you tell me", with a pause where he normally sings "fuck you". After a few lines, he screamed "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" repeatedly. The hosts Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty apologized.

On December 20, 2009, "Killing in the Name" became the first download-only single to become the UK Christmas number one, selling more than 500,000 copies. It was the closest race for the UK Christmas number one since 1998, when "Goodbye" by the Spice Girls competed with the South Park single "Chocolate Salty Balls". "Killing in the Name" was certified for the Guinness world record for "fastest-selling digital track (UK)", after recording 502,672 downloads in its first week. The following week, "Killing in the Name" dropped to number two, behind "The Climb". It fell to number 40 the week after and number 100 the following week. The campaign spread to Ireland, where, like the UK, the Christmas number one had been dominated by X Factor finalists for five years. "Killing in the Name" reached number two on the Irish Singles Chart, behind "The Climb".

Rage Against the Machine had promised to hold a free concert if "Killing in the Name" reached number one. On June 6, 2010, they held a concert for 40,000 people in Finsbury Park, London. De la Rocha told the audience: "It was all of you that made this happen — you were the weapon." The band invited Jon and Tracy Morter on stage to present the proceeds of the campaign to charity. The concert opened with an animated skit of Cowell saying "I am Simon Cowell. I am the biggest star maker in the world — and I am a supernova." It ended with a video montage of media quotes accompanied by "The Climb", followed by a performance of "Killing in the Name".

Music video

The video was produced and directed by Peter Gideon, a guitar student of Tom Morello who had a video camera. It was filmed during two shows in small Los Angeles venues, the Whisky a Go Go and the Club With No Name. Released in December 1992, the uncensored version was shown on European MTV but was banned on American MTV because of the explicit lyrics. The video did not receive heavy airplay in the US due to the explicit lyrics, but received substantial airplay in Europe and drove the band's popularity abroad. It was released on Rage Against the Machine: The Video.

In 2021, in a collaboration with the arts collective the Ummah Chroma, Rage Against the Machine released a 15-minute documentary about the making of "Killing in the Name". It features anti-racist activist Tim Wise and contains footage of an interview with de la Rocha, who says that capitalist society "should not stand. It should be challenged and questioned and overthrown."

Legacy

In 2002, Rolling Stone named "Killing in the Name" the 24th-greatest "guitar song". It ranked it at 207 in its 2021 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In 2023, it named it the 38th-greatest heavy metal song. "Killing in the Name" reached number two in the 2009 edition of the Triple J's Hottest 100 of All Time, a poll of more than half a million votes conducted by the Australian radio station Triple J. In 2007, Guitar World named Morello's "Killing in the Name" solo the 89th-greatest guitar solo. In 2010, the New Statesman named "Killing in the Name" the 12th-greatest political song, as voted for by the UK Political Studies Association. In December 2021, the Official Charts Company announced that "Killing in the Name" had been voted the UK's favourite Christmas number one by the British public. In June 2026, CBS News named "Killing in the Name" one of the 250 essential songs of the preceding 250 years.

Live performances

Rage Against the Machine burning the American flag while playing "Killing in the Name" at Woodstock '99.

The song was performed as an extended instrumental at their first public performance at Cal State Northridge, on October 23, 1991. Bassist Tim Commerford is known to chant the backing vocals of "now you do what they told ya" of the chorus during most live performances.

Zack de la Rocha sometimes changed the lyrics in the second verse from "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses" to "Some of those that burn crosses are the same that hold office" when playing live. The band Audioslave, which included some members of Rage Against the Machine, performed versions of "Killing in the Name".

Rage Against the Machine performed the song live in 1999 at the Woodstock '99 festival, burning the American flag during the song. In this performance, de la Rocha changed the lyrics to "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn churches".

On January 30, 2026, at the Minneapolis Concert of Solidarity and Resistance to Defend Minnesota, Tom Morello performed "Killing in the Name" at First Avenue. The concert was held in solidarity with the Minneapolis, Twin Cities, and greater Minnesota communities defending their neighbors and protesting against federal immigration actions. Bruce Springsteen joined the concert with the live debut of The Streets of Minneapolis, followed by Morello joining Springsteen on "The Ghost of Tom Joad". The concert was held at midday, before the protest march being held that afternoon in Minneapolis.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Killing in the Name"5:13
2."Darkness of Greed"3:40
3."Clear the Lane"3:47
Total length:12:40

"Darkness of Greed" and "Clear the Lane" were re-mastered versions of the respective demo tracks. Another version of "Darkness of Greed", titled merely "Darkness", was included on the 1994 soundtrack album for The Crow. The previously unreleased demo appeared on the XX 20th Anniversary Edition of their debut album, which was released on November 27, 2012.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI) Platinum 600,000‡
Italy (FIMI) Platinum 70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) 6× Platinum 180,000‡
Spain (Promusicae) Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Killing in the Name"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 20, 1992 Radio Epic
United Kingdom February 15, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
Australia May 17, 1993
  • CD
  • cassette

Other uses

An image of George W. Bush stencilled in light blue with the words "Killing in the Name of" written above it.
Lyrics from "Killing in the Name" appear throughout popular culture.

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 Guantanamo 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.

During the 2019–20 Chilean protests, the song was covered with some of the lyrics modified alluding to the Chilean police force's misuse of violence in repressing peaceful protestors.

On June 29, 2022, a Vancouver radio station, CKKS-FM (branded on-air as KISS Radio), stunted by repeatedly played "Killing In The Name" for 30 hours. The song was repeatedly played on loop after the station dropped its hot adult contemporary format, resulting in the firing of its airstaff. The station occasionally paused the loop to take call-in requests, only to continue playing the song. At 6:00 AM PDT on June 30, 2022, the station rebranded to "Sonic", which plays a modern rock format.

Cover versions and parodies

References

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