KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 04: Musicians Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart of Rush perform at Sprint Center on August 4, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Squires/WireImage) | Jason Squires via Getty Images

(New York-AFP) - Canadian progressive rock giants and libertarian icons Rush on Thursday announced concerts across North America in what the band said would be its last major tour.

The tour, which comes 41 years after Rush released its self-titled debut album, will start May 8 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and close on August 1 at the Los Angeles-area Forum.

Rush's three members in a statement said they wanted to "celebrate with the most loyal fans in the world" by playing four decades worth of material on what "will most likely be their last major tour of this magnitude."

Rush had its start in Toronto playing the hard guitar-driven sound that was then becoming popular but eventually became a major force in so-called progressive rock, which employed synthesizers and explored more complex song structures.

The band's lyrics, written by drummer Neil Peart, often examine the responsibility of the individual in society in songs inspired by science fiction and ancient mythology.

The lyricism has made Rush the favorite band for many in the libertarian movement, which opposes a large role for government, although Peart and lead vocalist Geddy Lee have steered clear of identifying themselves directly with political groups.

Peart, Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson were the first rockers to be decorated with the Order of Canada, and Rush was inducted in 2013 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Rush To Embark On Final Major North American Tour