Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper Band, Tom Waits, Dr. John and Darlene Love in Rock Hall

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times - Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper Band, Tom Waits, Dr. John and Darlene Love are the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2011.

The "Sweet Caroline" crooner had been eligible for induction before.

"I thought about it occasionally, but I kind of figured they'd get around to me at some point," Diamond said in a phone interview with the Associated Press.

Diamond delivered a potent performance in 2008 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

"A showman, an ace songwriter, Diamond may have never been hip, but the man sure knows how to show folks a good time," I wrote in my review.