Many in the Business consider Mahoney a living legend. He currently owns and is the principal Artist at the Shamrock Social Club on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, CA. Mahoney started his work as a tattoo Artist in Boston in 1977 (when tattooing there was illegal), where he was in the midst of the 1970s punk scene. He has stayed relevant and influential in the tattoo world ever since. He was a pivotal force during the 1980s black and grey movement, and has tattooed some of Hollywood's biggest names.