SURGIN band leader Jack Ponti was, allegedly, the man who taught JON BON JOVI the art of songwriting, when the pair played together in the New Jersey club band THE REST. In actual fact, a song Ponti and Bon Jovi wrote together in that band, 'Shot Through The Heart', turned up on both the debut BON JOVI album and SURGIN's debut a year later and was a major selling point for the latter. Released by Capitol Records in North America, the British branch of the company passed on releasing the record in Britain, so the enterprising independent label Music For Nations stepped in to save the day.

Ponti would find ongoing work as a record company employed songwriter. British Heavy Metal band GRIM REAPER even utilized his talents for a projected fourth album prior to their dissolvement. Ponti's main successes centered around writing for SHARK ISLAND and BABYLON A.D. with writing partner Vic Pepe. Ponti would also play a significant part in the career of BATON ROUGE.

SURGIN singer Russell Arcara joined rival New Jersey outfit PROPHET, replacing Dean Fasano for second album 'Cycle Of The Moon' and would later record a solo album with PHANTOM'S OPERA guitarist Karl Cochran. A second ARCARA album was released in early 1998.

Arcara was replaced in SURGIN by Tony Fontaine and Ponti and co involved themselves in the recording of albums by BILLY BRANIGAN and DAVID RAGE.

Ponti created ANGRY TEARS in 2000. In early 2005 Russell Arcara announced a new band project billed THE WAY in union with guitarist Stephen DeAcutis and keyboard player Charlie Calv, the latter a scene veteran of SHOTGUN SYMPHONY, SKIN TAG and THE BRONX CASKET CO..