Live at Finsbury Park

It's a funny story. Back in 2009, as the U.K. geared up for another sappy X Factor winner's single as a Christmas number one, a radio DJ and his wife had another idea. Nominating Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" to their audience, they put out a call for listeners to purchase the 1992 debut single and drive it to the number one slot. Pop maestro Simon Cowell and his X Factor winner Joe McElderry were none too pleased, especially when Rage hit number one on just download sales alone, beating McElderry's cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb." Fulfilling a promise to play a free concert as a thank-you to fans, Rage Against the Machine arrived in London six months later in June 2010 and played a tight, blistering set of their hits (as well as one Clash cover, "White Riot") to 40,000 rabid fans at Finsbury Park. In addition, buoyed by loyal fandom and the spirit of holiday giving, in the six months between Rage's number one and the day of the concert, fans donated over 162,000 pounds toward the homeless charity Shelter. Serving as both a live greatest-hits and a possible bookend on the band's legacy, Live at Finsbury Park is a pummeling blast of energy and a reminder of Rage's enduring cultural impact. ~ Neil Z. Yeung|