When the mighty Who perform in huge stadiums across the globe, you'll find him stage right, playing guitar and singing backing vocals, a trusty general alongside his mega-star brother, Pete. He's also Roger Daltrey's right-hand man for the Tommy show.

But Simon Townshend is fuelled by the same creative genes that underpin his elder sibling's prodigious talents. A multi-instrumentalist and singer, he's been writing, recording and performing since he was nine – when he provided some vocals for the Tommy LP.

Simon's sixth solo album, Looking Out Looking In, is poised for release and there's a rare chance to witness his undeniable talents in concert as part of he and his band's nationwide Secret Weapon tour.

Now just beyond his half century, Simon grew up in the London suburb of Ealing, immersed in music. His father, Cliff, was England's top reed man in The Squadronaires big band, and his mother, Betty, was a singer.

Pete was 15 when Simon was born, four years after middle brother, Paul, and already making an urgent and remarkable entry into the world of rock 'n' roll.

Simon has been a touring member of The Who for the past 15 years; one US newspaper referred to him as the band's "secret weapon" – hence the tour title.

"I love Pete's music and because he's my brother I have a natural empathy for his songs. I couldn't have wished for a better career. I have been so, so lucky in that respect," he says.

But Simon has always held his own ambitions as a member of various bands – including the Casbah Club with Bruce Foxton and Mark Brzezicki – as a highly respected record producer on both sides of the Atlantic, and as an individual artist.

"I do need to express myself creatively; and it does hurt sometimes that my songs are not being aired, and that perhaps I could have got further as an artist," he confesses.

"I am desperate for people to hear my music – especially the new album. I really want to get it out there."

Over the years he has come to terms with his place in the shadows, and learned to celebrate and enjoy the enviable opportunities he's had.

"I accepted my situation a long time ago. When I was 30 and I hadn't broken through, I realised I might have to branch out into recording and production," he says.

"But I never gave up on the dream. I still have that burning desire to get out and play my songs. Finding time to be creative and do my own thing can be a problem. When I come home back from a Who or Tommy tour it lingers in my system; you wake up with the songs in your head. It takes two or three weeks to unwind after a tour.

He's worked on the album bit by bit at his loft studio at home in Ealing – still in the same family house where he grew up and brought up his three children with wife, Janie.

Touring with Simon this time around are respected guitarist and keyboard player Tony Lowe, bassist Phil Spalding, who played on a host of hits in the 1980s, and Greg Pringle, a drummer who performed with the UK theatre tour of the mod musical Quadrophenia, featuring songs from the Who album of the same name.

"I didn't want a band of old fogeys; I wanted to get some young blood in there," laughs Simon, who promises an interesting setlist.

"I've been working with Roger for a long time and he has a real knack for entertaining an audience. I've learned a lot from him. I'm not the entertainer he is, but I know what it takes to make a show," he says.

"I'll keep it lively and make it an eclectic mix. I won't be playing too many new songs. Nobody wants to listen to an hour of songs they've never heard."

As well as the pick of the crop from his own compositions, he will offer his take on some quirkier numbers from The Who back catalogue.

"I like some of the more obscure tunes that don't usually get aired – like Goin' Mobile, which I've been singing on the Daltrey tours, Dirty Jobs, which the bus driver sings in Quadrophenia, possibly I'm The Face," says Simon. "I might do some different Mod tunes too.