A fan campaign to send AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' to the No. 1 spot for Christmas has ended short of its goal, but still left the band with a pretty impressive career milestone.

As we previously reported, it all started thanks to a British tradition attaching special significance to the single that tops the charts during Christmas week. A number of major artists have notched Christmas hits (with some, such as the Beatles and the Spice Girls, boasting multiple winners), but lately, most of the biggest year-end hits have come courtesy of the 'X Factor' singing competition series.

Trying to put an end to the show's glossy pop reign, various groups of fans have sought to game the charts in recent years, and in 2009, they succeeded, handing Rage Against the Machine an unusual holiday hit by sending 'Killing in the Name' to No. 1. This year's campaign had plenty of support, amassing more than 170,000 Facebook likes, but it wasn't enough to prevent 'X Factor' winner Sam Bailey from claiming the top spot with her cover of Demi Lovato's 'Skyscraper.'

But even if they didn't hit their stated goal, AC/DC's fans still succeeded in sending 'Highway to Hell' all the way to No. 4, which would be worth celebrating in its own right, and takes on added significance because it marks the first time the band has broken the Top 10 on the U.K. singles chart -- adding a sweet final flourish to their 40th anniversary celebration. Congratulations to all, and to all a loud night!

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