NEW YORK -- Van Halen might as well "jump" for joy -- the classic rock group has been named as one of the five inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The group will be joined by alternative rockers R.E.M., the Phil Spector-produced girl group The Ronettes, rock poet Patti Smith and DJ/hip-hop pioneer Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five for the induction ceremony March 12 in New York City.

The biggest question will be which lead singer will front Van Halen during the ceremony. The original lineup of the band included singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael Anthony.

Van Halen's first album in 1978 spawned the hits "You Really Got Me" and "Runnin' With the Devil," and later, they had other hits like "Jump."

But when Roth left the group, he was replaced by veteran rocker Sammy Hagar for the 1986 album "5150." Hager was briefly replaced with former Extreme singer Gary Cherone for 1998's "Van Halen III " but joined the group again after, among other things, a solo tour co-headlined by Roth.

This year's class was voted on by 600 industry experts. Nine nominees were up for the honor, but Chic, Joe Tex, the Stooges and the Dave Clark Five failed to make the cut.

To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.