 He also was the Grateful Dead's "head roadie" and equipment manager during and prior to those years, and began his first role with the band as tour truck driver in 1967.In 1972, Shurtliff co-produced Jerry Garcia's Warner Bros. Records solo album, entitled simply "Garcia", along with Bob Matthews, Betty Cantor and Bill Kreutzmann.Shurtliff received his nickname "Ram Rod" from Neal Cassady of the Merry Pranksters, while traveling through Mexico with author Ken Kesey.