Mark Mahoney’s Shamrock Social Club on the Sunset Strip might best be described as a place where the elite meets the underworld, a hangout for his celebrity friends and a stop for those looking to get a commemorative tattoo in his classic black-and-grey aesthetic. His soft-spoken manner leads listeners to refer to him as “the priest,” so the place might as well be a confessional.
He knew he wanted to spend his life as a tattoo artist when he first walked into a tattoo shop at age 14. The look, the smell, the artwork and the group of outsiders always appealed to him.
“I was always drawn to the counterculture,” Mark Mahoney said.
Born and raised near Boston, Mahoney dropped out of art school in the mid-’70s and set her sights on Manhattan. She tattooed bikers and outlaws before meeting her peers at a Chelsea hotel. She beat up a member of the Ramones at CBGB and got high with William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg before sending her friend Nancy Spungen off to London. When she returned, she brought Sid Vicious with her.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1980, befriended punk rockers and gangsters, hung out with movie stars and musicians, and did drugs with intellectuals and degenerates. He’s a 100% true original, an endangered species, and calls Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey friends.
He appeared in several films, including roles as cool, Catholic, well-dressed, well-rounded guys — not so different from his roots in revering local heroes, gangsters and thugs in his neighborhood. As a young man, he thought about becoming a priest, prayed, followed most of the rules and tried to live up to the expectations of a New England kid who loved motorcycles, leather jackets and Grease the Car Magazine.
Most would say his reputation and compassionate spirit extends to the famous, infamous and unknown alike. His shop is like a clubhouse for anyone looking to carve out a chapter in their life: the good, the bad and the ugly. Mahoney has laid out the blueprint for what’s cool and is an inspiration to creatives around the world. If you’ve been to a tattoo shop recently, it’s probably built on the framework he and his colleagues have built over the past half century.
After nearly 50 years of activity, he regularly visits old friends to catch up and even tattoo their children and grandchildren. He connects, meets like-minded people and imparts wisdom on how to sit, listen and talk. “I think the reason they keep coming back is because I care,” Mahoney says. “Their pain is my pain, their joy is my joy.”
The shop is decorated with images of hope and faith: relics of a bygone era, overlooked quotes, and nods to his Catholic upbringing. Faith plays a big role in his life, and he won’t give up on the idea, putting all his trust and confidence in something that was underground, misunderstood and illegal until recently.
Mahoney has many reasons to love what he does. His shop is in the middle of Hollywood, on the most iconic strip in the world. He frequents it many times, spending time with people who have now become lifelong friends. He goes to work every day, does a job, and makes a living, but he doesn’t think of himself as an artist, and has no interest in pursuing the artistic side of things. He sees his single-needle black-and-grey designs in the same way he sees black-and-white photography and film: ideas that are etched over time, becoming softer and more beautiful.
“I think black and gray is more elegant and timeless,” says Mark Mahoney. “It feels more dramatic.”
The Clubhouse has moved from its original location to 1114 Horne Avenue in West Hollywood, on the Strip. Mahoney has also launched a clothing brand called Shamrock Social Club Collective, which screen-prints his original designs onto the classic styles you’d see at a tattoo parlor.
Mahoney continues to make tattooing affordable for everyone, eschewing private studios and thousands of dollars in designs. He is a humble tattoo artist who is inspired by the beauty all around him. He believes in friendship, family, and the power of connecting with his clients through good times, hard times, and everything in between.
“Tattooing is a collaborative effort,” Mahoney says. “Connection is paramount.”
Don’t be fooled by the alligator shoes and vintage Cadillacs. Mark Mahoney believes in the power of connection. That’s what keeps him coming back. He’s one of the pioneers of outsiders, teaching the next generation and beyond the power of being yourself, being true and authentic, and not following trends. Having lived through the punk scene of the 70s, the discomfort of the 80s, and the disappearance of originality, you want authenticity with real friends.
To make a reservation, please contact Shamrock Social Club at 310-271-9664. There may be a small waiting line, but you can expect top quality work, great conversation, and a place to confess all your sins if you so choose. Afterwards, just sit back and watch the master perform, pay your respects, and trust in the power of faith that connected you to your Godfather.
