Killing In The Name

About this song

The song was the lead single from the band's self-titled debut album and was released in November 1992, reaching only #25 on the UK charts in 1993. It was written six months after the 1991 Rodney King beating, which led to the L.A. riots. Seventeen years later, a Facebook campaign against a TV-show Christmas single pushed it to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and it became the fastest-selling digital track in the UK, according to Guinness World Records, with 502,672 downloads.

What it's about

The song is a searing protest against police brutality. It was inspired by the Rodney King beating.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 19 other songs, like “Rage Kid by REDZED”.
• Covered 19 times, including “Killing in the Name by First to Eleven”.
• Written by Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, Tom Morello and Zack de la Rocha.
• Produced by Rage Against the Machine and Garth Richardson.
• Recorded at Sound City.