A MAN is swapping his band for a bayonet after signing up to be a soldier.

Matthew Johnston, 25, from Colchester, has given up teaching music and playing funk, soul and jazz in the Colchester band Soulberry Jam, to join the British Army.

Not only did he complete basic training at Pirbright, in Surrey, to join the 11 Signals Regiment in Blandford, he also graduated top of his class.

He says he doesn’t miss the life of a chilled-out musician, as he is relishing the challenge of Army life.

He said: “It’s not that much different because I was self-employed, so I needed to be very disciplined to make sure I had work coming in.

“But what I have missed is being able to get up when I like – at Pirbright I had three-and-a-half months of getting up at 5am.

“My dad was in the Army, so I had a military upbringing and he was influential in my decision.

“He didn’t force me to join or say I should join his regiment, but he told me what a good career it was.

“I think I’d always wanted to be in the Army but I wanted to do other stuff before I settled down.”

Even the prospect of a tour in Afghanistan does not faze him.

“It doesn’t really play on my mind because you know you’ll get the best training before you go.

“After teaching classes of eight-year-olds, I think I can probably cope with anything,” he said.