Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Tom Waits and Darlene Love will be inducted into The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame.

The annual crop of five musical acts will be added to the US institution in March 2011 after being voted from a shortlist of acts by 500 music industry insiders.

Artists are eligible to be voted into the Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording.

Alice, born Vincent Damon Furnier, told Billboard magazine he wouldn't have accepted the induction if it weren't for his original group, which split in 1974 after recording seen albums, following which he went on to have a successful solo career.

He said: "It was the original band that had all the iconic records from 'Love it to Death' on to 'Billion Dollar Babies'. What I did after that was an aftermath.

"The original band were the guys that had to cut through that big, thick ice in order to become an entity out there. I can't see how I could just go up there as an individual."

Neil Diamond started as a songwriter for other artists in the 60s, before recording his own tracks, including pop classics 'Sweet Caroline' and 'Solitary Man'.

Dr. John is a songwriter who has been recording since 1959 and is most famous for mixing the distinctive jazz and rhythm and blues styling of his home city, New Orleans, with other genres including psychedelic rock. He has been cited as an influence by musicians including Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.

Tom Waits is a pianist and singer, famed for his gravelly voice and experimental approach to music, who achieved widespread underground success in the 70s, and later commercial success in the 80s with albums including 'Rain Dogs' and 'Swordfishtrombones'.

Darlene Love is a female vocalist and actress who got her first break singing with girl group The Blossoms, who worked with producer Phil Spector, and her strong voice led to a successful recording career with hits including 'He's a Rebel' and 'Da Doo Ron Ron'.

Artists shortlisted but passed up for induction included The Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi, Chic, Donovan, the J. Geils Band, LL Cool J, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Joe Tex and Chuck Willis.