Rage over Simon’s machine

Music fans put a lump of coal in “American Idol” mogul Simon Cowell’s stocking by denying one of his new acts the prestigious Christmas No. 1 spot in Britain.

Thanks to a Facebook campaign capitalizing on growing unhappiness with Cowell’s cookie-cutter approach to pop stardom, the antiestablishment Rage Against the Machine came out ahead of 18-year-old Joe McElderry, winner of Cowell’s popular “X Factor” TV competition.

Rage Against the Machine’s 1992 hit “Killing in the Name” surged in the last days of the competition to sell more than 500,000 copies, compared to 450,000 for McElderry’s single.

Rage guitarist Tom Morello said the band would donate the profits to the British homeless charity Shelter.

Meanwhile, Cowell’s brother, Tony Cowell, has confirmed that Simon will leave “Idol” after next season to host a U.S. version of “The X Factor.”

Detox this way

Steven Tyler has entered a rehabilitation facility to treat an addiction to painkillers the Aerosmith frontman has taken to cope with 10 years of performance injuries.

The band canceled a summer tour in August after he fell off the stage during a performance and broke his left shoulder.

Tyler, 61, checked into rehab last year to recover from several foot surgeries.

Speaking of rehab …

Amy Winehouse has been arrested on assault charges after reportedly struggling with a member of a theater’s staff after she was heckled during a performance.

The troubled British singer was acquitted earlier this year of assaulting a fan who asked to take her picture.

The birthday bunch

Singer Jimmy Buffett is 63. Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 61. Actress Sissy Spacek is 60. Singer Annie Lennox is 55. Country singer Steve Wariner is 55. Singer Shane MacGowan (The Pogues) is 52. Singer Dido is 38.