Dire Straits, Bon Jovi Lead Rock Hall Class of 2018

The British invasion is coming to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Veteran English “dad rock” favourites Dire Straits and the Moody Blues join U.S. bands Bon Jovi, the Cars and late jazz great Nina Simone for graduation into the Rock Hall class of 2018, organisers announced overnight. Trailblazing gospel artist Sister Rosetta Tharpe will be posthumously awarded the Early Influence honor.

The famous five were culled from a 19-strong longlist stacked with Brits, from Radiohead to Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Judas Priest and Eurythmics, alongside political rockers Rage Against the Machine, ‘80s hitmakers J. Geils Band, rapper LL Cool J and Detroit rockers MC5  all of whom miss out this time.

According to the rule book, eligible artists must have released their first recording no later than 1992 -- 25 years after the release of their first commercially available record. The chosen few are selected by a Rock Hall voting academy, comprised of hundreds of artists, historians and music industry professionals and, in a new tradition, a "fan’s ballot."

Bon Jovi is the baby of the current crop. Having run away with the fans' ballot, the New Jersey rockers will be the only new entry into the Rock Hall that began their career after the 1970s.

"It's a Christmas miracle," Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan told Rolling Stone. "[We were] guys living the dream, getting on a bus with no guarantees in any way shape or form or anything. It was, 'Let's go out and make this happen.' And we actually did."

Radiohead, who hinted they’re rather be elsewhere than at the Rock Hall, was the only act on this year's ballot in their first year of eligibility. They didn’t make it.

Bands often reunite for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will be held April 14 at Public Hall in Cleveland. Whether Richie Sambora and Bon Jovi bury the hatchet for the big occasion is bound to be a hot talking point in the months ahead. HBO will broadcast an edited version of the 33rd annual ceremony later in the year and SiriusXM will handle the radio broadcast.