Promoter of Christchurch You Are Us/Aroha Nui concert defends Six60's controversial lyrics

Matiu Walters of Six60 performs during the You Are Us/Aroha Nui Concert at Spark Arena on April 13, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

A You Are Us/Aroha Nui Christchurch concert promoter has hit back at those criticising Six60 for playing a song containing lyrics about guns and bullets last night, saying he backs the band "100 per cent".

Upwards of 20,000 people packed into Christchurch Stadium last night and spent three-and-a-half hours rocking out to homegrown talents Lorde, Dave Dobbyn and Shapeshifter.

All proceeds went to the Our People, Our City fund, set up to help those affected by the Christchurch mosque attacks.

However, some of the concertgoers were unhappy when Six60 performed hit Vibes because of "inappropriate" lyrics within the song.

The lyrics include: "I'm a loaded gun, got my aim on you/ It turns out that you ain't bulletproof" and "got the loaded gun, I hope your aim is true".

But a co-promoter for the event, Brent Eccles, was saddened that fans were focusing on the negative when the concert ended up being "incredible".

"For a band that went out of their way, cancelled shows, cancelled press, really did the hard yards to even play that event, for something like this to be said it is incredulous.

"I stand by the band 100 per cent. They gave it their all, went out of their way to come play these shows and I don't think they deserve this criticism at all."

Eccles said the band helped raise a lot of money for those involved in the Christchurch terror attack as they sold a lot of tickets.

"That's the most important thing and that's what we should be talking about, really," he said.

Eccles also defended the song Vibes, saying that the hit is about love and people shouldn't take the lyrics out of context.

After the event, fans on social media pointed out that the song was not appropriate for the event because of the lyrics.

thinking back now six60 singing "vibes" probs wasn't the best song to sing at a fundraiser concert for the victims of the shooting in christchurch lol...

— Caito Potatoe (@Caito_Potatoe) April 17, 2019

Six60 10 points for thinking not... where on Earth were your heads at when you chose to sing Vibes at The You Are Us Aroha Nui Christchurch Concert #Six60 #badchoice #majorfail

— Charlotte Ward (@charlottalks) April 17, 2019

#ArohaNui not the best song choice was it @SIX60. Talking about loaded guns and not being bulletproof, really should have thought about that one

— Zara (@zarzarsmith) April 17, 2019

man i get that it’s a hit but did six60 rly need to play their song with the hook abt having a loaded gun

— m h (@m_h_lumber) April 17, 2019

However, some fans were over the moon about their performance, praising them especially for singing Don't Forget Your Roots.

six60 “this is our version of the national anthem” playing don’t forget your roots... they’re not wrong

— emma (@eversincenz) April 17, 2019

“This is our version of the National Anthem.” Six60 before performing ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ (aka an iconic moment in NZ history)

— ash (@folkloredynasty) April 17, 2019

What a way to spend my 21st birthday with some @1stanwalker , @SIX60 and @lorde amongst a massive success for #Christchurch aroah Nui benefit concert #aroahnui 💜 pic.twitter.com/qqoC00ObLB

— Angel•BLM• (@Angelgilchrist1) April 17, 2019