MUMBAI: In addition to the sponsorship woes that Independence Rock faces this year, there has been debate over few bands performing out of their zones. The issue escalated when I-Rock 2009 schedule listed Mumbai bands Workshop, Khiladi, Shor Bazaar and Tripwire playing under the Pune zone, which many speculated was rigged.

Speaking to Radioandmusic.com, I-Rock founder and E-18 CEO Farhad Wadia said this time entries from the Pune bands were not up to the mark, I can't help it if bands from Pune suck – I am not going to put them on if they do not send me quality stuff. All we did was move these four Mumbai bands to a city closest to them,... he added. Ironically, it was Pune based rock band Silver which won the competition last year.

Each city in I-Rock's roster has slot for eight bands, says Wadia, We like to give a chance to the best talent. In Kolkata we have bands coming in from Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland. In Bangalore, we have got bands coming in from Cochin and Chennai – So last year, a Chennai based band won from Bangalore and came to Mumbai,... he defends.

This year Hindi bands Pralayh, Ek, Safar and Shor Bazaar have also made it to the list, says Wadia, The Hindi bands which have made it were really great, they sounded really good, and so I have to give them a chance,... he says, I cannot discourage a band just because they are singing in Hindi....

I-Rock received 300+ entries this year out of which 40 have made it to the competition, Wadia says, My job is to put on the best rock talent. It is not language specific, it should just sound good. The participating bands job is to make it the top forty bands, and where we put them up is up to us,... he says.