I could probably fit him in the top thirty rock drummers of all time. Nowhere near the top ten. He just wasn't lucky enough to be with a band that made lots of hit records or lots of money. As a lyricist he was a bit unique among drummers but having to write lyrics for songs that usually didn't chart had to be a bit challenging.
Compare his drumming skills to Michael Shrieve of Santana. Or Ringo Starr. How about Charlie Watt? Maybe Ian Paice? What about Bill Bruford? Butch Trucks? Jai Johanny "Jailoe" Johanson? What about Aynsley Dunbar? Cozy Powell? Nick Mason? (He probably has a better car collection too!) What about Bill Payne? I am leaving out tons of very talented rock drummers. How about Dave Grohl? Maybe Don Henley of the Eagles?
I could easily populate the top thirty drummers of all time without Neal Peart being mentioned because after all his band was never one that sold lots of albums or made lots of hits. Do I like his taste in cars? Yes a lot!
Do I like Rush as a band? Yes but I would not consider them top of anything except maybe Canadian rock bands with ultra high octave vocals.
One of the best rock drummers or THE best rock drummer of all time?
Jon