4 Non Blondes howled their way onto the charts in 1993 with “What’s Up?” and then vanished without a whisper. Formed in 1989 and eventually establishing their most consistent lineup made up of Linda Perry (vocals), Roger Rocha (guitar), Christa Hillhouse (bass), and Dawn Richardson (drums), 4 Non Blondes saw a meteoric rise out of the Bay Area alternative scene when they signed to Interscope Records and released ‘Bigger, Better, Faster, More?’ in 1992.

Characterized by Perry’s anthemic, high-pitched singing, “What’s Up?” was slowly added to modern rock stations and then crossed over into the mainstream, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Top 200. The video for “What’s Up?” became a smash on MTV, propelling sales of the album to over six million copies worldwide. Within a short span, the band achieved platinum and gold sales status around the world, and was a household name through dominating radio, MTV, and late night television.

The group toured with Aerosmith, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, and Bob Dylan, and recorded songs for the soundtracks to feature films such as Wayne’s World 2 and Airheads. However, Perry felt that the group had become too pop; consequently, she left 4 Non Blondes in pursuit of a solo career, both as a performer and producer. Perry went on to release works under her own name and has produced and written songs on albums by Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, and more.

Having been dormant in the years since and with a renewed energy to reunite, 4 Non Blondes have announced their reformation to return to the stage. “What’s Up” continues to stand the test of time having maintained radio airplay and entering the Spotify Billions Club in late 2024. For the first time in decades, the band will appear at festivals across the USA, including Wonderfront in San Diego, CA, Bottlerock in Napa, CA, and more to come.