Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 nominees include Bon Jovi, Dire Straits

The original Bon Jovi lineup, back in the days when induction into the Rock Hall was a distant dream.

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

The original Bon Jovi lineup, back in the days when induction into the Rock Hall was a distant dream.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has its list of musical luminaries to be inducted in 2018.

Bon Jovi (including original member Richie Sambora), The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues and Nina Simone will enter the hall in the performer category and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will be inducted with the Award for Early Influence.

Bon Jovi, which received more than a million fan votes to be tallied alongside the other ballots to determine induction, has been eligible since 2008 and landed on the ballot last year, but failed to make the final cut. Singer Jon Bon Jovi told the New York Times that he was pleased with the honor, but added, "it's about time."

Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were on the ballot for the first time.

The 33rd annual ceremony will take place on April 14 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland. Ticket sales for the general public will be announced soon; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members (or those who become one by Dec. 31) will be eligible for a pre-sale opportunity.

The induction ceremony will air on HBO and be broadcast on SiriusXM.

To be eligible for induction, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of induction (for 2018, that would be 1992).

Ballots were sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, including current living inductees, historians and members of the music industry.

Follow the AJC Music Scene on Facebook and Twitter.