Green Day lead 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Billie Joe Armstrong thinks Green Day's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is "incredible".

The band's front man spoke after it was announced that they would be joining Lou Reed, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Bill Withers as 2015 inductees on Tuesday.

It was the first year that the band was eligible for consideration, due to the criteria that an artist's debut album had to be released 25 years ago. Green Day are one of the few musicians to be successful in their first attempt to join the prestigious museum. For the 42-year-old, it's a dream come true.

"It just took some time to sink in. We're in incredible company and I'm still trying to make sense of this. It's just incredible," Billie Joe told Rolling Stone. "For me, rock and roll is not an outdated term. To me, it means freedom. It was a way for me to express myself and I'm eternally grateful for the fact that I've been able to do that pretty much my whole life."

Green Day released their first album, 39/Smooth in 1990 and have gone on to have major success around the world with songs including American Idiot, Wake Me Up When September Ends and Basket Case.

Also part of the induction ceremony on April 18th at Cleveland's Public House is late Texan guitar slinger Stevie Ray Vaughan and blues group the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Meanwhile Beatles drummer Ringo Starr will receive the Award for Musical Excellence. The 74-year-old was inducted in 1988 with the Beatles, and since then, his band mates have each been honored separately.