A Pulsing Birthday Bash : Music: British reggae band Steel Pulse will headline “The 11th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration” on Monday.

Steel Pulse singer-guitarist David Hinds has a special label for the reggae band’s San Diego concerts.

“Operation C.C.,” Hinds said. “San Diegans are a crazy crowd .”

“The time before last in San Diego, we played at a block carnival where they blocked the streets off,” Hinds said, referring to the band’s 1990 Michelob Street Scene performance. “We had to stop playing after half an hour. The crowd broke the stage down. They are a hungry crowd, hungry-plus.”

San Diego’s reggae faithful will have another chance to terrorize the stage Monday, when Steel Pulse--Hinds, Selwyn Brown, Steve Nesbitt, Phonzo Martin, Alvin Ewen and Sidney Mills--headlines “The 11th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration” at the San Diego Sports Arena. The seven-hour show also features Pato Banton, Charlie Chaplin, Sister Carol, Brigadier Jerry and Inner Circle.

Hinds says performing in tribute to late reggae great Bob Marley gives the concert special significance.

“Bob Marley had a tremendous influence on us,” Hinds said in a phone interview from Santa Cruz during a concert stop. “As a matter of fact, his (1973) ‘Catch a Fire’ album was like a catalyst for the establishment of Steel Pulse. We were in school when we first heard ‘Catch a Fire,’ and we decided it was about time we did something musically. We were really impressed with the songs, and that got us started.”

The Jamaica-born Marley grew to international prominence with a distinct blend of musical offerings. He wrote and sang angry, revolutionary songs such as “Get Up, Stand Up,” “Buffalo Soldier” and “Africa Unite.” He also wrote tender, romantic love songs such as “Waiting in Vain,” “No Woman No Cry” and “Could You Be Loved.”

It was the angry, rebellious spirit in Marley’s music that first sparked the interest of Steel Pulse. The British sextet’s first three U.S.-released albums--”Handsworth Revolution,” “Tribute to the Martyrs” and “Caught You”--feature hard-edged, politically charged songs about injustice and oppression. Since those early days, however, Steel Pulse has toned down its controversial tone and is designing music for a wider audience.

“As the years went by and more of the world became right-wing, as opposed to left-wing, we had to compromise a little and we added more love songs,” Hinds said. “We had to move in a different direction in order to increase our commercial appeal.

“In the early days, we put more of our heart and soul into the music. Now it’s a lot of mind games. We have leaned less toward political issues in the music, especially on the direct, grass-roots level.”

Hinds is abrupt and pragmatic in defending the evolution.

“It’s a case of staying alive in the music industry,” he said with a defeated tone in his voice. “Can you imagine doing an album in 1992 where all the tracks sound like ‘Earth Crisis’?” he asked, referring to Steel Pulse’s 1984, politically volatile album. “It wouldn’t have a chance in today’s market.”

Steel Pulse’s latest release, “Victims,” demonstrates a clear separation of musical styles. On one side are fluffy, feel-good tunes such as the danceable “Can’t Get You (Out of My System)” and the pop-inflected “Soul of my Soul.” Issue-related songs such as “Gang Warfare” and “Free the Land” are buried on the flip side.

Despite Steel Pulse’s efforts to become more accessible, the band has not made any significant inroads into American radio play lists. Reggae music in general has been shunned by commercial radio, so Steel Pulse is forced to tour constantly to promote its music.

The group has been on the road nonstop since June, performing in Australia, Guam, Japan, the West Indies and throughout North America. Hinds is anxious for a respite.

“In all honesty, if radio played us (as much as) they play Prince, Michael Jackson or Bobby Brown, I don’t think we’d tour half as much as we do now,” Hinds said. “I personally prefer recording to playing live. I wouldn’t tour if I didn’t have to.”

Not so for percussionist Steve Nesbitt.

“It’s a great feeling being on stage,” the gravel-voiced, gray-bearded Nesbitt said. “It’s a great feeling to open someone’s eyes to a different form of music from another culture. There’s a lot of people around the world that don’t know what’s going on. We want to try to make sure everybody knows what’s happening to everybody else around the globe. It’s a great joy for us to feel like we are educating people about the world around them.”

The band members are especially adamant about warning fans of the dangers of drug abuse. One of their newest songs, “Gang Warfare,” paints a graphic picture of how drugs can destroy a community.

“We’ve met quite a few drug addicts, coke and crack addicts along the way, and some people have told us that Steel Pulse songs have helped them come off drugs,” Nesbitt said.

“Gang Warfare” may raise some eyebrows because smoking marijuana is an important part of both Jamaican and reggae cultures. Nesbitt denies that the group is sending a mixed message.

“The image of marijuana being a drug is unfair,” Nesbitt claims. “Have you ever heard of anyone dying because of a marijuana overdose? Have you ever heard about anyone freaking out on marijuana and killing someone or jumping off the roof? It’s not that sort of a drug. We don’t even think of marijuana as a drug.”

Hinds says Steel Pulse will return to England in the spring or summer to work on both a live album and a new studio album. The dreadlocked musician also said the band would like to expand its horizons.

“We would really like to participate in film, not only writing music for films but also acting. Can you picture me as Hannibal?” he asked, chuckling. “Wouldn’t that be wild?”

Steel Pulse will headline “The 11th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration” at the San Diego Sports Arena. Acts begin at 3 p.m.; Steel Pulse is scheduled to appear at 8:15. Also performing are Pato Banton, Sister Carol, Charlie Chaplin, Brigadier Jerry and Inner Circle. Tickets are $16-$20. 224-4176 or 278-8497.