Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond Among 2011 Inductees
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) The 2011 class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced Tuesday, and Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond were among the rockers chosen.
Darlene Love also made the list, along with New Orleans musician Dr. John and singer-songwriter Tom Waits.
PICTURES: Rock Hall Inductions 2010
PICTURES: Rock Hall Rocks Out
Piano man Leon Russell was honored with a musical excellence award, previously the sideman category. Executives Jac Holzman and Art Rupe were given the Ahmet Ertegun Awards.
Others will have to try again next year. Bon Jovi, nominated for the first time, was turned away from music's prestigious club, as was LL Cool J, the J. Geils Band, the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer and more.
Diamond, whose hits include "Sweet Caroline," had been eligible for the Rock Hall for several years. But he was never really worried about getting an invitation.
"I thought about it occasionally, but I kind of figured they'd get around to me at some point," he said in a phone interview.
Like Diamond, Cooper said he hadn't been anxiously waiting for his Rock Hall invite, though his name has been mentioned in conjunction with the institution for years.
"You know it crosses your mind, but then you think of all the guys who aren't in there, some of them before you, and you go, 'Wow.' ... You realize that it's a waiting game," the heavy metal rocker, known for his dark eyeliner and shaggy hair, said in a phone interview. "I don't think you sit around holding your breath on it."
Love said she thought two of her biggest boosters for the hall - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Stevie Van Zandt - would likely do the honors at the March 14 induction ceremony in New York.
She was also happy for some of the other inductees, including Russell, who used to play on some of her sessions.
"This is going to be a helluva jam session," she remarked about the upcoming festivities.
The induction ceremony will be aired on the cable TV station Fuse.