LED ZEPPELIN UNVEILS SETLIST FOR 2025 “SHIELD OF PAIN” FAREWELL TOUR: A CELEBRATION OF LEGACY AND LASTING IMPACT
In what is being hailed as a monumental moment in rock history, Led Zeppelin has officially unveiled the set list for their highly anticipated 2025 “Shield of Pain” tour. Designed as both a farewell spectacle and a celebration of their unmatched legacy, the tour promises to be a final, thunderous bow from one of the most influential rock bands of all time.
The “Shield of Pain” tour will mark Led Zeppelin’s first full-scale global outing since their brief but electrifying 2007 reunion at London’s O2 Arena, and it will be their last. For longtime fans, this announcement is both a celebration and a bittersweet goodbye.
A Legacy Etched in Thunder
The decision to embark on the “Shield of Pain” tour was made jointly by surviving members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. Jason Bonham, son of the late and legendary drummer John Bonham, will once again be behind the kit — a continuation of the role he so poignantly filled in 2007.
“We knew that if we were going to do this again, it had to mean something. It had to be a proper farewell — with teeth, with grit, and with heart,” Robert Plant said during the press conference at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Jimmy Page, the band’s architect and guitar wizard, added, “This is not a nostalgia trip. It’s a statement. These songs still breathe, and they still roar.”
The “Shield of Pain” Set List
The officially released set list features a carefully curated mix of career-defining epics, deep cuts, and fan favorites. With 18 songs, the set spans the full breadth of the Zeppelin catalog — from the bluesy swagger of their early days to the mythic grandeur of their later work.
Full Set List:
- Immigrant Song
- Good Times Bad Times
- Black Dog
- The Ocean
- Over the Hills and Far Away
- In My Time of Dying
- No Quarter
- The Rain Song
- Dazed and Confused
- Going to California
- Since I’ve Been Loving You
- Ten Years Gone
- Kashmir
- Trampled Under Foot
- When the Levee Breaks
- Stairway to Heaven
Encore:
17. Whole Lotta Love
18. Rock and Roll
A Thematic Journey
The tour’s title, Shield of Pain, is said to be inspired by lyrics from an unreleased Zeppelin composition that the band has chosen to revive as the tour’s instrumental intro. The phrase symbolizes the endurance, sacrifice, and emotional armor built over five decades of musical conquest.
“There’s been ecstasy, tragedy, and everything in between,” said John Paul Jones. “This tour is the culmination of it all. It’s our way of saying thank you — and goodbye.”
Fans can also expect powerful visual production elements, including LED screen backdrops featuring historical footage, conceptual art inspired by their album covers, and lighting designed by renowned stage architect Patrick Woodroffe.
Global Tour Dates and Tickets
The “Shield of Pain” tour will kick off on August 2, 2025, in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium and will make stops in major cities including New York, Toronto, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney, São Paulo, and Cape Town. The final show is scheduled for December 20, 2025, at London’s Wembley Stadium — where Led Zeppelin last performed together 20 years ago for a charity concert.
Tickets for the first leg of the tour will go on sale June 21 through the official Led Zeppelin website and authorized vendors. Each show will also feature a limited number of premium “Zeppelin Legacy Experience” packages that include access to rare memorabilia, soundcheck entry, and exclusive tour merchandise.
Reactions and Reflections
The internet has exploded with reactions from fans and musicians alike. Metallica’s Lars Ulrich tweeted, “This set list is UNREAL. Zeppelin going out like gods.” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl wrote on Instagram, “They lit the fire. Every single one of us who picked up a guitar did it because of Led Zeppelin. This tour is sacred.”
Even younger artists like Billie Eilish and Hozier have expressed admiration for the band’s decision to honor their past with such intention and gravitas.
A Farewell That Rocks the World
As the world prepares for what is sure to be a legendary final tour, fans are encouraged to secure their seats quickly. With this being the definitive last chapter of Led Zeppelin’s live journey, “Shield of Pain” will not only celebrate the band’s towering influence but also pass the torch to the next generation of dreamers, shredders, and storytellers.
In the end, the hammer of the gods strikes one last time — and the echo will be eternal.