unlikely to offend anyone. His lyrics do not advocate violence, discrimination or anything offensive, he says.

"My music has to say something sensible,'' said Maxi. "I don't go for anything that's not constructive. I sing about unification, peace, love, the world, so many things. I have a very creative mind.'' Controversy swirled around the last two reggae concerts held in Bermuda. Gay rights activists were upset over a song and statements by international reggae stars Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks.

British-born Maxi Priest arrived quietly in Bermuda this week to relax on the beach and visit his many Bermudian friends before his performance on Saturday at the National Stadium.

His friend Tipper Irie, whose reggae hits include "Hello Darling'', will also be performing.

Speaking to he Royal Gazette yesterday from his hotel suite, he said: "I like Bermuda. It's a place where I can relax. I've made a lot of friends here -- everywhere I ride on my moped bike it's like `Hi Max!'.'' Maxi stopped in Bermuda following a South American tour to promote his latest album Fe Real, which includes all the flavours of his unique music style: reggae, raggamuffin, r&b and pop.

Since his last concert in Bermuda two years ago, Maxi has seen his audience expand across the globe.

He has performed to sell-out audiences in the Caribbean, Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii and down under in Australia and New Zealand, where Fe Real hits, including "Can't Turn Away'' and "One More Chance'', topped the music charts.

Maxi has also starred in an HBO movie with Christopher Walken, playing a Jamaican cab driver.

He took the part in "Scam'', he said, because Walken was his favourite actor -- along with Dustin Hoffman.

Maxi believes reggae music is here to stay.

The new music styles which have emerged in the past few years, such as rap, dancehall and hip-hop, are all reggae-influenced, he said.

"Reggae is getting big all around the world,'' he said. "It is definitely a thing of the future. In the few years that I've been in the business it has grown more than it ever has.'' One reason for reggae's growing popularity, said Maxi, was "the youth have more of a say nowadays''.

"Reggae has always been popular in colleges and universities. College guys and girls have always been into reggae, but it has never come to the front line.

"I guess we are in that time of change. Here we have President Clinton who is a very young and vibrant person. I think that's made a big change in attitudes.'' Urging teenagers who want to be musicians to pursue their dreams, Maxi said young people were being taken far more seriously by record companies today.

Though Maxi spends a great deal of time in Jamaica, where he recorded most of his latest album, he calls Southeast London home.

But the Rastafarian does not have much regard for the Royals.

"I don't consider her my Queen,'' he says of the Queen, in his distinct South London accent. "I think Royalty is revealing itself, meaning that they're no different from the rest of us. It's a great big hype, But I tell you what, It's a smart hype.'' Maxi, who won't reveal his age -- "it's in the mind'' -- is unmarried. "No way!'', he says.

But he is committed to family life, he said, being one of nine children.

FOR REAL -- British reggae star Maxi Priest, fresh from a sellout tour of Brazil to promote his latest album Fe Real, arrived quietly in Bermuda this week for a few days of relaxation before his concert Saturday night at the National Stadium, which will also feature "surprise guest'' Tipper Irie.