Led Zeppelin's one-off reunion gig at London's O2 Arena three years ago was inspired by a performance by Sir Elton John, it has emerged.

The band were initially uncertain about using the venue, but were won over when they were taken to watch one of Sir Elton's gigs there.

"We were going through (the venue) with the band, and [Jimmy Page] said, 'I bet it doesn't sound any good up there',” David Campbell, president and CEO of AEG Europe – the company responsible for the O2 Arena – said.

“So, with all of them, as well as Harvey and myself, we took the elevator up to Level 4 to go to the very top of the building to have a listen.”

He added: "Someone held the elevator, and we were sort of standing there waiting for them to go. They just put their thumbs up, and sort of smiled at each other.

“That's when Harvey [Goldsmith] and I knew that this was going to be OK. Then, John Paul Jones started running up and down the stairs; and that was it."

Campbell also told Celebrity Access that Led Zeppelin had tried to play down press coverage about their rumoured reunion show.

Calls for another Led Zeppelin reunion have been constant since the band's one-off appearance at the O2 Arena in 2007.

(by Jason Gregory)